Penrith cannot afford to keep Tyrone Peachey if he reneges on his Gold Coast Titans deal
TYRONE Peachey may not join the Gold Coast because his partner is unsure about relocating — but one thing is certain if he decides to knock back the Titans to remain in Sydney.
NRL
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PENRITH officials have confirmed they can’t fit Tyrone Peachey under the salary cap if he decides to renege on his three-year Gold Coast deal.
As revealed in The Saturday Telegraph, Peachey may not join the Titans because his partner is unsure about relocating as the couple plan for a second child.
Peachey’s manager Sam Ayoub has contacted Gold Coast officials about his client’s predicament and is optimistic he can work through the family issue.
“I’m reasonably confident, but I can’t commit to it 100 per cent,” Ayoub said.
“Tyrone’s partner is a bit concerned. A few of the other boys that have gone up to the Gold Coast and their partner’s haven’t settled in being away from family.
“But we are working through it and it doesn’t mean he is not going to be at the Titans.”
One thing is certain — Peachey won’t be at Penrith if he decides to knock back the Titans to remain in Sydney.
The Panthers’ priority is retaining stars like Nathan Cleary, James Fisher-Harris, Waqa Blake and Jarome Luai.
This will force Peachey to link with another Sydney club if he opts against joining the Gold Coast due to family reasons.
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But Titans coach Garth Brennan claims he will be stunned if the NSW Origin star performs a Daly Cherry-Evans-style backflip on the Gold Coast.
The Titans were burned badly in 2015 when Queensland Origin star Cherry-Evans backflipped on a signed $4 million contract to remain in Manly.
The infamous “Round 13” rule which allowed Cherry-Evans to renege on the Titans deal has since been abolished and Peachey would have to be formally released by the Gold Coast if he wanted to remain at Penrith.
Brennan worked closely with Peachey during his time at the Panthers and said the indigenous All Stars representative would honour the deal.
“I don’t have any concerns whatsoever,” Brennan said.
“The clauses for Cherry-Evans getting out of the contract were there then. He was within his rights to do what he did.
“That’s not the case anymore. That clause has been changed.
“One thing I will say about Tyrone Peachey is he is a good man. He is an honourable man.
“He is committed to us. I’d be very surprised if anything changes.”