BY STAFF WRITERS

New South Wales Blues legend Garry Jack has blasted Braith Anasta on social media after Anasta said Pearce ‘had a level Cleary would never get to’.

Despite 18 appearances for the Blues, Pearce is yet to win an Origin series.

“Mitchell Pearce debuted with me at the Roosters and I’ve watched him evolve as a player and this is no disrespect to Nathan, but Mitchell Pearce has levels of his game that Nathan Cleary will never reach,” Anasta told Fox Sports’ NRL Tonight on Thursday.

“Nathan will be a great first grader for a long period of time, but Mitchell Pearce has the ability to be up there with the best when he is at his best.

“He has got so much fire power with his passing and his kicking game.

“I just think he has a level that Nathan Cleary will never get to.”

Jack, one of the greatest fullbacks to ever don the blue jersey, took to Twitter to defend Cleary and questioned Anasta’s own dubious representative record.

“That is a dreadful thing for Anasta to say,” Jack began.

“This coming from a player who promised so much and delivered very little. You forget they won it last year with young Cleary whilst Pearce has never won a series in seven attempts.”