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How Mitchell Pearce became ‘Ju’ and Wayne became ‘Junior’

In your Big League program, he's Mitchell Pearce. 

To his teammates, he's called by many names. 

The nib Newcastle Knights captain goes by Pearcey, Ju, Junior, Ju Ju and plain ole Mitch.

So, which does he prefer?

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"Most of the boys call me Ju now, so I'm happy with that," Pearce said.

While Pearce's nickname is unique, it's one he shared with his father.

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"It's pretty cool," Pearce said.

"I think it's a pretty cool nickname, junior. I'm happy with that. The funny thing is, mine probably suits it being the junior of your dad but I think the way dad got it was something to do with flexing his muscles when he was playing."

Pearce's father Wayne is a Balmain legend.

The lock picked up the nickname 'Junior Pearce' early in his playing days.

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"Apparently he was in the gym when he was about 20," Mitchell explained.

"They'd just done a big weights session and dad was a big fitness fanatic. He was flexing his muscles in the sheds and when on the old school trainers came over and said, 'not another flexy' (because) there was a guy called 'flexy' and they didn't have a nickname for him, so they started calling him flexy junior and that's how it stuck. A bit of history."

Click on the podcast at the top of the page to hear Mitchell Pearce open up!