Corey Pearson: from No 5 to No 8
Shane Lee | May 03, 2023
Former Petersham 1st grade cricketer and NSW junior representative Corey “Slug” Pearson changed his sporting career focus at the age of 21 from Cricket to Rugby League and I may have played a small part in his decision making.
I preface this story by saying Corey is one of my best mates and he's also the Godfather to my five-year-old son Thomas - God help Thomas and I mean that literally.
I first met Slug when playing Green Shield at the age of 15. I was the quiet blonde quick from the South Coast of NSW and Corey had already been cutting his cricketing teeth in the lower grades at Petersham Cricket Club.
Corey’s introduction to the world of “Man Sport” was honed by the Petersham elite. Graham “Heaps” Hughes (why did they call him Heaps? When you saw him in the shower he had HEAPS!), Brian Riley (the greatest sledger of all time) and the Sullivan Brothers or “Slut” Brothers - Worm and Fuss. The Petersham hierarchy had developed their own language, designed to distract and sledge the opposition on the field and attract the ladies off it!
“Miss World,” “I love your Earrings,” “Snip Snip”, ”Curl the Moe” and “Next Question!” were all but a few of their well-crafted one-liners that Corey still uses today.
Our first touring experience came when we were both selected to tour South Australia to play for the NSW in the Under 17’s Australian Championships. I was the opening bowler and middle-order batsmen and Corey was the wicket-keeper batsmen. It was at these championships I first witnessed his Petersham trained wit. Let’s face it when you play for Petersham you learn to sledge before you learn to play a square cut! “Why wouldn’t ya!” “Ah, Miss La Perouse you look magnificent.”
In our second match against the ACT, I found myself bowling to their opening batsmen, a young African kid called George Gregan. Yes, the opening bat turned Wallaby legend and a great leader.
Back then George was tiny and couldn’t hit the ball off the square, he was 5 not out at drinks. What came next is in George’s autobiography under the best sledge he ever received.
Slug yelled out “Hey Webster, when are you going to buy yourself a set of men’s pads.” Corey was very big on 80’s TV!
Four years on and after two under 17 campaigns and two NSW under 19 campaigns Corey and I found ourselves selected in the NSW under 21 Colts team to take on the might of Queensland in Brisbane.
“Beautiful, Beautiful”, “Sweet Sweet”, “Roomy’s again”.
It was at this juncture in my sporting career I learned my greatest lesson. When it’s pouring down with rain the night before a match in the Sunshine State, it doesn’t mean you’ll be washed out the next day.
Overcome with excitement and keen to reform our bond as roommates Corey and I went out way too hard the night before the first day of the four-day game. I should also mention I was again selected as the bowling all-rounder but in this team, Corey was selected as the number 5 batsmen only. He would not be fulfilling his normal role as wicket-keeper batsmen as we had a new kid on the block by the name of Adam Gilchrist (who was also named captain).
It is hard to describe the feeling after a long night on the booze with very little sleep when you open the dark curtains in the hotel room praying it's still raining. What we got next was a blinding light that you only get in Queensland that burns the back of your retina as you curse your decision the night before. “Fuck I hope we bowl Shaneo!” “Cheers Corey, I’ll have to open the bowling to their top order Jimmy Maher, Martin Love and Andrew Symonds with an hours sleep and 35 bourbon and cokes swishing around in my guts.”
History shows Gilly lost the toss and Queensland choose to bat and Corey stood at second slip for the first time in his career.
My first ball to Love was the perfect outswinger and it drew Love forward and the ball took the outside edge and flew to Corey at second slip. Corey still half asleep did not lay a finger on the ball as it crashed into the fence at third man. As I walked back to the top of my bowling mark cursing my roommate “If you’re going to play up, you have to back up!”
I noticed Corey evacuating himself from second slip to mid-off now next to me. “Sorry Shaneo, but I’ve never fielded in the slips.” And nor should he.
The next ball found Love leaning on a similar delivery as he stroked the ball to Corey at mid-off. Corey tripped, “Harbour Bridged” the ball and looked at me to chase it to the fence.
What followed was one of the longest and hardest days of my life in the field. When it was our turn to bat Corey nicked his third ball to first slip to record a duck.
It is believed the then manager Dick Guy did Corey his biggest sporting favour of his career. COREY PEARSON TO NEVER TOUR AGAIN!
Let the record show that Gilchrist went on to play 96 Tests for Australia and score 17 Test hundreds. Corey went to play 177 first grade games as a front-rower in the NRL. 80 matches with the Balmain Tigers, 80 matches with the St George Dragons and 17 with Parramatta in his last season when he was way past his best.
“One more year.” “Take the cash.” “Sweet Sweet”…..Next Question!
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