If only.

Any legitimate claims to privacy ceased the minute that a reported 150 invited guests started receiving phone calls and texts last week informing them that Pearce's wedding to Kristin Scott, which was supposed to have taken place in Byron Bay two days ago, had been postponed.

One can only imagine how rapidly the gossip spread.

It didn't take long to reach the Sunday Telegraph, and keeping a story "in house" becomes slightly problematic once it has been given front-page treatment in Australia's biggest-selling newspaper.

Within days, a high proportion of rugby league fans in NSW and Queensland - as well as neutral observers with no interest in the 13-man code - were aware of the allegations.

According to widespread reports that are yet to be denied by anyone in authority, the reason Pearce's nuptials have been indefinitely deferred is because his future wife read inappropriate text messages he sent to a female Knights employee.

Without having cast an eye over the texts, I suggest it would be dangerous to speculate on their content, but they have been variously described in the media as "flirty", "racy" and "sexting".

Whatever the case, they were apparently enough for Pearce's betrothed to suddenly develop cold feet and leave her high-profile husband-to-be dealing with another self-inflicted crisis.

Newcastle's powers-that-be are right in saying Pearce's relationship with Scott is a "private matter".

Hopefully love will find a way and everyone will live happily ever after.

But somehow I doubt that a one-paragraph statement, then ducking for cover and hoping this all blows over, will suffice.

The eyes of the rugby league community are now firmly focused on Knights management, wondering how they will respond to a situation that has already caused profound embarrassment.

If the Knights have afforded Pearce some space until they can sit down with him face to face, fair enough.

But as of Monday next week, when players resume training after their Christmas-New Year break, the "no comment" policy is likely to reach its use-by date.

Given that the Telegraph has already reported Pearce's position as Knights skipper is "under review", until such time as the club offers some form of confirmation or denial, this issue remains unresolved. And while ever it remains unresolved, the media are entitled to continue asking awkward questions.

In my mind, the Knights have three potential options.

Firstly they can take the hard line, strip Pearce of the captaincy and make an example of him. He should be familiar with the process.

If that's the path they choose, then perhaps the next step will be to discuss the 31-year-old's future at the club.

Pearce has one season to run on his Newcastle contract and has indicated he wants to stay.

But for the sake of the argument, let's just imagine that the Knights demote Pearce as skipper and inform him that he won't be re-signed at the end of next season.

Pearce would presumably attract immediate interest from rival clubs, raising the prospect of an early release.

Option two is for the club to let Pearce down gently.

Replace him as captain, but deliver the news wrapped in positive spin, by saying his personal life is now his No.1 priority and he has volunteered to stand down.

It is worth noting that when Pearce was sacked as Sydney Roosters captain in 2016, after the notorious Australia Day incident that led to him being fined $75,000 and suspended for eight games, he simply got on with his job and played as well as ever.

That brings us to option three, which would be to have a quiet word in Pearce's ear and proceed with the status quo.

Some fans will say that's a no-brainer. Who cares about these text messages? Why should they have any bearing on Pearce's captaincy?

Well, consider this, for starters.

The Knights employee who allegedly received the texts from Pearce is understood to have a long-term partner who plays in the Newcastle Rugby League competition.

He played juniors and lower grades with the Knights and has been close friends for years with at least one current Newcastle NRL star.

Given the situation, how conflicted must Pearce's teammate feel, and could this potentially spill over into dressing-room tension?

The other portent that does not augur well for the former NSW Origin playmaker is the zero-tolerance approach Phil Gardner has taken in dealing with disciplinary breaches during his three years as Knights CEO.

Tautau Moga, Jacob Saifiti and Mason Lino were all heavily fined for off-field indiscretions.

As Gardner told the Newcastle Herald in 2018: "The standards of behaviour need to improve.

"We'll be taking a very tough line with anyone whose standard of behaviour is not what is expected of a professional rugby league player ...

"If anyone breaches those standards, under our code of conduct we have a range of options, from fines, to suspension, through to termination of contracts."

Presumably the same standards apply equally, whether you're a highly paid superstar or a lesser light.

Indeed, it is widely accepted that the discipline and professionalism of senior players is what creates the culture at a club.

With that in mind, has Pearce's position as captain now become untenable?

Knights officials need to think long and hard before reaching a decision.