Reason Panthers veteran Tyrone Peachey brushed historic grand final

The Panthers squad celebrated their four-peat win well into the night, but there was one notable absence on the historic day.

After their grand final win on Sunday night, the Panthers crew have been celebrating right through the night.

But there has been notable star missing from the squad; Tyrone Peachey.

It turns out Peachey brushed the grand final to play in the Koori Knockout in Bathurst over the weekend, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Tyrone Peachey (right) and Izack Tago at a Panthers fan day in 2023.

Peachey returned to the Panthers in 2023 to see out his career, making his final NRL appearance in round 13 before announcing his retirement.

The 33-year-old, who was signed with the club until the end of the year, asked permission to miss the game to play the tournament which the Panthers granted.

He asked about lunchtime on grand final day after his team, the Nanima Common Connection, made it into the top four.

Tyrone Peachey in round 25 of the 2023 season. Picture: Getty

He missed his team claim an unprecedented fourth-straight premiership in a 14-6 win over the Melbourne Storm on Sunday to become inarguably the greatest team of the NRL era.

His absence meant he also missed the pre-match ceremony honouring players retiring this year.

Peachey announced his retirement earlier this year on his podcast after a 12-season career.

He narrowly missed out on playing in the Panthers 2023 grand final before playing just two games off the bench for the side in 2024.

The retiring star was a notable absence in the celebrations. Picture: Instagram

The celebrations continued into the night. Picture: Supplied

The utility has played 209 NRL games and made three Origin appearances.

He is set to play for Burleigh in the Queensland Cup next year.

“I was pretty sad and rattled to admit it (to his wife),” he said about pulling the pin on his NRL career at the time.

“I’ve known for a while and it’s been hard at training, and harder to turn up every day, it’s been difficult. But I finally admitted it and I felt better.”

Last year, Peachey founded a business Nanima Care – an Indigenous transport company.

“I suppose (I’m) trying to set myself up and really diving into work post-football. I’ve finally admitted to myself that (it’s time),” he said.

“I’ve had (the family) follow me around for the last 13 years and it’s been a journey – it’s full on, but I just want to settle down for the kids. They’re at the age where they kind of need to get a group of friends and have best friends for the rest of their lives.”