David Peachey

David Peachey
Personal information
Nickname Peach
Born (1974-04-21) 21 April 1974[1]
Dubbo, New South Wales[2]
Playing information
Height 190 cm (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Weight 90 kilograms (14 st 2 lb)[2]
Position Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1994–05 Cronulla Sharks 232 110 0 0 440
2006 Widnes Vikings 9 10 0 0 0
2006–07 South Sydney 25 7 0 0 28
Total 266 127 0 0 468
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2003 NSW Country 1 1 0 0 4
1997 New South Wales(SL) 3 1 0 0 4
2000 New South Wales 1 1 0 0 4
1997 Australia (SL) 1 0 0 0 0
Source: Rugby League Project

David Peachey (born 21 April 1974 in Dubbo, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s.[3] An Australian international and New South Wales representative fullback, he played the majority of his club football in the National Rugby League for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. During his career, Peachey also played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs[3] of the NRL and the Widnes Vikings in the English League One. Peachey also played representative rugby league for Country Origin. He is an Indigenous Australian. His nephew Tyrone Peachey debuted for the Cronulla Sharks but currently plays for the Penrith Panthers.[4]

Playing career

Peachey began playing league rugby for his local junior club in Dubbo, the Dubbo Macquarie Raiders. Two other well-known league exports – Preston Campbell and Nathan Blacklock – were in or around his age group at the same time at the Raiders. After several seasons in the country with Dubbo he signed with the Cronulla Sharks.

Cronulla Sharks

Peachey's career with the Sharks began in the reserve squad but he quickly made his way into the first grade side after many dazzling performances in the lower grades. He made his first grade debut on 12 March 1994 in Round 1 against the Canberra Raiders at Toyota Park.[3]

Over the next few seasons Peachey quickly established himself as a first team regular in the Sharks' first grade side.[3] His broken running and unexpected flashes of magic consistently dazzled not only home but also away crowds and he soon became a strong fan favorite within the league.

In 1999, David Peachey was presented with the Dally M award for Fullback of the Year.[2] Peachey was selected at fullback for New South Wales in the 2000 State of Origin series. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury kept him out of the second and third games of the series, but not before he could cross for the match winning try in Game 1.

After attaining several awards of recognition with the NRL and being awarded with representative jerseys for both New South Wales and Australia, Peachey started to go through a patch of bad form and what seemed like bad luck. When longtime coach John Lang left soon after and Chris Anderson came in, Peachey looked as if he seemed to lose some of his desire for the game and on one occasion went missing for a short period..

In 2003, Peachey was named in the top ten Cronulla Sharks Legends, as nominated by the fans and picked by a panel of rugby league experts.

Niggling injuries of the hamstring started to plague him as he started to get on in age and it seemed as if the Sharks veteran could have possibly been put aside in the hope of finding some younger blood. After a slow start to 2004 Peachey found some of his best form towards the later part of the year and when contract negotiations were settled mid year he seemed to re-focus his mind back on football, playing with the trademark skills and excitement that Sharks fans had become accustomed to .

As the 2005 season got underway rumours started to surface that new Cronulla coach Stuart Raper wanted to go in a new direction with his fullback and would subsequently cast Peachey aside. For several months his future seemed uncertain until he announced on The NRL Footy Show that the club would no longer be retaining his services after twelve years of loyalty.

After his final match against for Cronulla, a loss to Souths, played in wet conditions at night, Peachey left the formal farewell celebrations early to meet with his fans who were waiting in the rain outside the dressing rooms. These fans included Souths fans determined to show their respect. Peachey stayed signing autographs and agreed to have his photo taken until the very last fan of either club had left.

Widnes Vikings

After hearing the Cronulla boards decision not to retain his services after the 2005 season, Peachey began to negotiate with several clubs for the start of the 2006 season. Many speculated within the media where he would eventually end up but one thing became certain after he made an announcement that he would move overseas to continue his career as he did not want to turn out against his old club anytime in the future.

Peachey was then signed as a utility back by the English Super League club, Widnes Vikings though after their relegation the club claimed it would not be able to afford his services. The club and fans, still desperate to acquire the services of the Australian, organised several fundraiser events which allowed Peachey to join the club for the beginning of the new season. However, in sweeping changes made by new club chairman Stephen Vaughan, Peachey had his contract terminated by Widnes Vikings on Thursday 11 May 2006.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

In late May, 2006, the South Sydney Rabbitohs announced the signing of Peachey to a contract for the remainder of the 2006 season, later extended to 2007.[5]

The first two rounds of the NRL season in 2007, saw a rejuvenated Peachey playing with vigour and a seemingly contagious attitude that rubs off on both his fellow players and the fans. His steadying influence and the ability to create something out of nothing, make "the Peach" a handful for any opposition. Despite having turned 33 before the season commenced, he has indicated that he is keen to have one more season with Souths. With the arrival of Craig Wing at Souths, it was announced on 5 July 2007 that David Peachy would retire from the NRL at the end of the season,[2] in order to fit Wing under the salary cap.

David Peachey played his last game in the 2007 NSWRL Premier League grand final for the North Sydney Bears.

Representative Games

Later years

David Peachey Foundation

The David Peachey Foundation was founded to support indigenous kids from rural and remote areas that excel or show potential in rugby league.

The foundation provides small grants and support mechanisms for Indigenous children who participate in sport representing their state and or country. This support usually comes from financial aid to the children.

Taupo event

Along with Frano Botica Peachey was heavily involved in the Cronulla Sharks playing NRL matches in Taupo. In the build up to the 2011 match he spent six months in Taupo, the birthplace of his wife.[6] While he was there he played club rugby league for the Taupo Phoenix in the Bay of Plenty Rugby League competition and trialled for the King Country Rugby Football Union side.[7]

References

  1. ↑ rugbyleagueproject.org
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Peachey pulls the pin on NRL". The Daily Telegraph (News Corporation). 5 July 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 http://www.stats.rleague.com/rl/scorers/players/David_Peachey.html
  4. ↑ "Tyrone Peachey". Cronulla Sharks. 2010. Retrieved 10-03-2010. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ Kilgallon, Steve (3 April 2011). "'Big risk' in Taupo NRL match for organisers". The Sunday Star-Times. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  7. ↑ Peachey On Trial For King Country voxy.co.nz, 13 August 2010

External links

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