In the meantime, Buderus said the Knights coaching staff remained focused on developing their existing halves with the help of club legend Andrew Johns.

Pearce's departure to take up a lucrative three-year deal with French club Catalans Dragons came three weeks after he requested the release from the final season of his Knights contract.

The loss of the 32-year-old former NSW halfback leaves Newcastle with a young and relatively inexperienced playmaking roster, which includes Jake Clifford, recruit Adam Clune and Phoenix Crossland. Clifford has a hold on one spot but it remains open who will partner him in 2022.

Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers) and Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys) appear targets for Newcastle but both have two years left on their deals. The shift of star fullback Kalyn Ponga to the halves, a move made in 2019 under coach Nathan Brown, is another option. However, current coach Adam O'Brien hosed down speculation about another attempt before Pearce's exit.

Buderus, though, indicated the club was looking at all options.

"I haven't got the immediate answer, but there's options, there is," Buderus said of a potential recruit.

"We don't necessarily buy a halfback, do we go another way and buy a fullback? There's lots of different options we need to weigh up, but we've got a lot of work to do."

When asked if moving Ponga to the halves was a serious consideration, Buderus said: "There's options, isn't there.

"I think the way we play, the more time Kalyn Ponga touches the ball, the better the team is going to be. So it's about how we structure our attacking processes and Kalyn getting the ball a lot of the time, as you'd expect.

"But at the same time, we need an established, experienced half and Adam Clune brings that. I'm excited by the way Phoenix Crossland has come back in and I think the combination is set between those guys, I think we'll be OK."

While speculation has swirled about recruitment options, Buderus said the club had a responsibility to coach and develop the players "under our roof". That has been boosted this year by the return of premiership-winning halfback and rugby league Immortal Johns as a coaching consultant.

"This group that's training now, they are next man up, they are the guys who are going to take the club forward and when there is injuries, this group, without the senior guys, are the ones who are going to perform and make the club a consistent team," Buderus said. "It's been really good to watch them move forward and evolve.

"We've got Joey here on Mondays and Tuesdays and the attacking structures are changing a little bit and they are getting their head around that, so it's exciting to think, we're only in week three, but all the experienced guys come back on the 24th and I'm sure they'll see a group that's pretty hungry."

Pearce exits after four years and 71 games for the Knights in his 309-match NRL career. He was among the first major signings for the club in their rebuild under Brown.

"It is sad, anytime you see someone that's had a significant contribution to the club to move on, but at the same time it's a celebration," Buderus said. "It's always the person first and the player second and I think for Mitchell and where he's at, it's a great opportunity to go over to the UK, and especially in France, in the Super League and really finish off the way that we know he will and really enjoy what he's about.

"Mitchell came to the club at any extremely tough time and he showed some faith."

The Knights had reportedly been seeking a transfer fee for Pearce. The terms of the release remain confidential but Buderus said Newcastle were "very happy with where both parties sit".

"It's confidential what's happened, but at the same time I think we're all happy to move forward," he said.

Asked if the club tried to entice Pearce to stay, he said: "Footy aside, I think for Mitchell the best thing was to go abroad. He's gone through a bit of a tough time of late, in the last 12 months. He's always had that media pressure, I guess you could say, and I just think he wants a fresh start."

Crossland, meanwhile, left training early on Tuesday with back pain but it was not considered a major injury.

IN THE NEWS:

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: