Tyrone Peachey says the chance to represent his culture and family prompted him to prioritise the Koori Knockout in Bathurst over his Penrith teammates at the NRL grand final.
Peachey, who earned a Panthers premiership ring as the team’s 18th man during last year’s decider, spent the weekend playing for Nanima Common Connection (NCC) over the weekend.
Peachey led NCC to the grand final, where he scored two tries, in a 46-12 loss to champions Walgett Aboriginal Connection. In doing so, he missed out on Penrith’s historic four-peat, plus the chance to be feted at Accor Stadium as one of the NRL’s retiring players.
The Panthers gave Peachey their blessing to participate in the Koori Knockout and the former NSW star said he was blessed to feel part of two huge career moments simultaneously.
“Whenever I get the opportunity to play for Nanima and put that jersey on with my brothers and cousins and family, I try to take that,” Peachey told this masthead.
“My team is called Nanima Common Connection, it’s a little mission just outside of Wellington where I went to preschool.
Tyrone Peachey.Credit: Getty
“All the lads I played with, they are mostly from that area. We all went to school together, it’s pretty special to me. They have just always been there for me, any opportunity I get to play with them, I’ll take it. I don’t think people outside the Knockout see what it means to us, as an Aboriginal man.
“If I wasn’t playing NRL, I’d still be playing A-grade somewhere or doing the exact same thing. I’m just fortunate I got to play NRL for as long as I did.”
Peachey, who played two matches for the Panthers this season and made 209 appearances in his NRL career, said he still felt a part of Penrith’s historic four-peat despite not being able to witness it live at the ground, and had no regrets about missing the retiring players’ parade.
“I don’t think people outside the Knockout see what it means to us, as an Aboriginal man.”
Tyrone Peachey
“The game has done so much for me, I don’t really need that send-off,” he said.
“I’m happy with how my career went, really happy with how I got to finish at the club I love. I was really satisfied with my career, the club has been nothing but great for me.
“I’ve been there for so long and made my name at the club. I get along with everyone there, they are all such legends. I knew they were going to get the job done.
“I watched it at home, we had the whole team watching it at Nanima and the whole family watching it at Bathurst.
“It was really cool to see them win the fourth one. I called them all after and spoke to them the next day, they were that proud. They were watching us [play the Koori Knockout] on the Mad Monday, Daine Laurie had all the boys watching it. It was special.”
Tyrone Peachey missed Penrith’s NRL grand final celebrations.Credit: Getty Images
Peachey has retired to focus on his business, Nanima Care, a shuttle bus fleet that employs Indigenous workers from the Penrith region. While the 33-year-old enjoyed stints at the Sharks, Titans and Tigers, he considers himself a Panthers man.
“We have our presentation tonight, fan day tomorrow. I can have my farewell then with all the people of Penrith who have always been there and shown support for me,” Peachey said.
“When [coach] Ivan [Cleary] called me and Charlie Staines went to Tigers, we did the switch, looking back now it’s probably the best decision I’ve ever made.
“I took less money to come to the club and just wanted to see if I still had that spark and that ability to be a good player, to make that team.
“I ended up being part of the 18 [players] that won the grand final last year. This year was pretty satisfying as well, I got to captain the NSW Cup team. They have got some good players and I’d never captained a team ever, so to make the finals was really special.
“Penrith is such a special club. I’ll always have a Penrith jersey, I’ll always support them. I love everything about the Panthers.”
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