Tyrone Peachey considering backflipping on Gold Coast Titans deal over a State of Origin bonus clause

NSW Origin star Tyrone Peachey weighing up his move to the Gold Coast over a $50,000 payment dispute — but the Titans are adamant there is no going back for the Penrith utility.

TITANS coach Garth Brennan and Tyrone Peachey are at loggerheads over a $50,000 payment dispute that has the NSW Origin star weighing up his move to the Gold Coast.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the key financial reason behind Peachey considering backflipping on the Titans, with the parties at odds over a bonus clause in the Panthers utility’s contract.

Under the terms of Peachey’s current contract with Penrith, the 27-year-old was entitled to a $50,000 pay rise on his deal with the Panthers next year if he played State of Origin this season.

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Peachey was subsequently chosen for the Blues in May. The only problem was that, two months earlier, Penrith agreed to release Peachey to the Titans on a three-year deal starting next season.

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It seems Peachey had the wrong idea about his Origin bonus. (AAP Image/Jono Searle)

Peachey believed his Origin selection would trigger a $50,000 bonus with the Titans, but no payment clause was included in his Gold Coast contract for the 2019 season.

Peachey’s deal with the Titans for 2020 and 2021 does contain rep-bonus incentives. And with his total Titans deal worth around $1.5 million, the Gold Coast won’t budge on the initial terms they struck with Peachey’s management.

In any event, Peachey’s base salary at the Titans for 2019 is $50,000 more than what he would have earned at Penrith next season — effectively covering the rep-bonus payment.

Penrith can’t afford to keep their utility anymore. (AAP Image/David Rowland)

If Peachey attempts to renege on the deal, Penrith can’t afford to keep him anyway. Panthers supremo Phil Gould agreed to release Peachey in the first place to help Penrith’s salary-cap position for 2019 and beyond.

Titans coach Brennan doesn’t want bad blood with Peachey but has explained the club’s position to the NSW Origin rookie.

“Tyrone will be coming here,” he said. “We won’t be moving on our position and I’ve explained that to Tyrone’s manager.

“Tyrone will not be out of pocket coming to the Titans.

“Under the new rules, Tyrone can’t backflip anyway. The only way he’s not going to be here is if we decide we don’t want Peachey here anymore and we have a better alternative, but that isn’t the case.

“I’m not concerned. He signed six months ago and we have done our recruitment based on Tyrone being here.”

It is understood another factor is Peachey’s partner being unsure about relocating to the Gold Coast as they plan for a second child.

Peachey’s manager Sam Ayoub has contacted the Titans and says he has detailed some welfare concerns to Gold Coast chairman Dennis Watt.

“I met with Dennis a month ago to convey some issues around welfare and family,” Ayoub said. “Since then I’ve heard nothing from the club, but we would like to come to a resolution.”

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Originally published as Tyrone Peachey considering backflipping on Gold Coast Titans deal over a State of Origin bonus clause