He has been absolutely outstanding for our club on many levels. I will come back to this shortly.

But despite the many great things Jamie has done, both on and off the field during his career in the NRL, it was the class and sheer grace he showed this week in making such an unselfish decision to step aside and allow younger players to start their journey in the big league that shows his true character as a team player.

I have been involved with many footballers over the years as they try to deal with the twilight years. Some "take kindly the counsel of the years and gracefully surrender the things of youth". Many live in denial. Others are determined to fight to the bitter end and extract every last cent they can out of the game before heading off into retirement.

Last September I had a very frank and honest discussion with Jamie about where I saw his career at that time. As I have done with several players over the years, I expressed how important it was to manage the final years of his playing career so that when it eventually ended, he would be satisfied with his efforts and his reputation and integrity would be intact.

Jamie still has a lot to offer in the English Super League, however, after three back surgeries in the past 12 months his time in the pressure-cooker environment of the NRL competition was fast coming to a close.

Jamie trained extremely hard during this most recent off-season and he was still producing some great football, playing a strong hand in several of the Panthers' victories earlier this season.

Over the past month though, it has become increasingly obvious that several of our young development players were starting to push their way through the system at Penrith and into the NRL team. This has been our plan all along and we are extremely happy with how this process is progressing.

For Jamie, this meant that much of his time could be spent playing in the NSW Cup, which is not where he deserves to finish his career.

From the time Jamie arrived at Penrith our club and our football improved immensely. On the back of his leadership, game control and impeccable kicking game the Panthers finished in the top four in season 2014. It was an extraordinary result.

Jamie has played a huge part in the development of many of the young players we now see graduating through to the top side at Panthers. They are better players for having played with Jamie. Our club is a better place for having him involved.

Making way: Jamie Soward mentored younger players at the club. Photo: Wolter Peeters

Off the field, he was easily one of the more popular players with our members and sponsors. In the first 12 months Jamie was with our club our membership numbers increased from 6000 to 16,000. He has always made himself available for community appearances, media, charitable functions and junior league clinics. His community work has influenced many people's lives.

Everybody at Panthers wishes Jamie well for the future. We know he will be outstanding for whichever club employs him in the English Super League.

I have always held the belief the Jamie could be an outstanding coach if he ever chose to move in that direction. If at the end of his playing days he decides on such a career choice, I would hope that we can offer him the opportunity to begin his coaching career in our system at Panthers.

Best of luck son and thank you for everything you have done for our club.

PEARCE CAN STILL TAKE HIS GAME TO ANOTHER LEVEL

Despite playing on the losing team on Thursday night, Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce was pretty much the best player on the field. He was huffing and puffing his way through the match, which is understandable given the limited amount of football he has played this season. However, never at any stage did he back away from the contest looking for a rest. He threw himself into the game from the opening minute and was still there at the end trying to win it for his team.

Throwing himself into the game: Mitchell Pearce shows plenty of commitment against the Bulldogs. Photo: Getty Images

I have always been an admirer of Pearce. From the outside looking in, I have always felt he has been rushed throughout his career. He played NRL a little too early. He was introduced to State of Origin football before he was ready. Not that any of this has been to his detriment, but it just means that too many people are now willing to write him off, when his career is only just about to get started.

Again, from the outside looking in, I have been somewhat disappointed in the development of certain aspects of his game. I am willing to accept that this may be Mitchell's fault more than those who have tried to mentor him during this period.

At just 26 years of age, I firmly believe the best years of Pearce's playing career are still in front of him. Everything he has done up to this point in his career simply represents a foundation on which the rest of his career can be built.

Yep, he has stepped out of the crease a few times and has been his own worst enemy with some off-field indiscretions. However, if he can put all that behind him and ignore the clatter of opinions around him, Mitchell will be remembered for what he does over the next six or seven seasons rather than anything he has done up to this point in time.

At his best he would still be my No.1 choice as the No.7 for NSW. The time he has spent in State of Origin football to date has not been fruitful at all. Some of that is his own fault. Much of it is not. He has suffered the same fate that many other playmakers have suffered over the past decade in the NSW Origin environment.

The bottom line though is that Mitchell, at this stage of his career, with the wealth of experience he already has behind him at such a young age, has the opportunity to take his game to a whole new level and produce a standard of football that ranks him with the top halfbacks who have ever played the game. He may be able to do this all by himself, but chances are he will need to trust someone to help him navigate his way through the second half of his career.

Anything is possible. It's never too late. I'm still backing him in.

WHAT'S LEFT FOR THESE MAROONS TO ACHIEVE?

Ominous: They've won 10 of the last 11 Origin series, but the Maroons have more in them yet, according to skipper Cameron Smith. Photo: Getty Images

It's pretty simple to work out what should be motivating the NSW Blues in preparation for game three of this year's Origin series. They desperately need a win to salvage something from the wreck.

There is no point sugar-coating the bitter pill. The spin doctors can try to dress it up anyway they like. The brutal truth is that the past 11years of Origin football have been an absolute disaster for NSW. To be honest, it has been highly embarrassing.

Take nothing away from the Queenslanders; it's been a wonderful era for them and they have proven themselves to be a champion group of men. But what's left for this team to achieve? What motivates them as they come into this game with the series already decided?

During this extraordinary run of 10 series wins in 11 seasons, Queensland have only once completed a 3-0 whitewash of the Blues. NSW has managed to bounce back and win "dead rubbers" on two occasions during the past decade.

You could be forgiven for thinking the Queensland boys could be at the point where they have grown tired of winning. However, if you think this Queensland squad will be content with just having won the series and you are hoping they will be down on motivation for the final game next week, well, you really don't understand Queenslanders.

This team will be out for total domination. They have NSW down and in total disarray. There is no way they will be gifting them an easy victory through lack of application or motivation for this match.

NSW will have to be good to win. They are capable of winning and, as I have said on several occasions during the past month, this Queensland team is vulnerable and ready to be beaten. Whether or not NSW have the self-belief and the strategy to force a win remains to be seen.

Let's hope they get it right this time.

Phil Gould is general manager of Penrith Panthers.