David Peachey
Encyclopedia
David Peachey is a former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin 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
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 is in the Cronulla Sharks Toyota Cup team.
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
.
at Toyota Park.
Over the next few seasons Peachey quickly established himself as a first team regular in the Sharks' first grade side. His broken running and unexpected flashes of magic consistently dazzled not only home but also away crowds and he soon became a strong fan favourite within the league
.
In 1999, David Peachey was presented with the Dally M
award for Fullback of the Year. 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 long time 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 .
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, ironically a loss to Souths, played in wet conditions at night, Peachey left the formal farewell celebrations early to meet with his loyal 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. Said one Souths fan present "It was one of the most warm hearted gestures Ive ever seen in the game. His kind words of gratitude to the freezing fans made us feel special, when it was supposed to be his night. He's just an outstanding fellow, down to earth and very humbling."
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.
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 the 7th of July 2007 that David Peachy would retire from the game at the end of the season, 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.
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.
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. While he was their 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.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback, he played the majority of his club football in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. During his career, Peachey also played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
of the NRL and the Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
in the English League One
Rugby League National Leagues
The Championship, known as Co-operative Championship due to sponsorship by The Co-operative Group, is a professional rugby league competition based in the United Kingdom. It is currently contested by ten teams from England. It acts as Europe's second-tier competition below the Super League, and has...
. Peachey also played representative rugby league for Country Origin
City vs Country Origin
City vs Country is an annual Australian rugby league football match that takes place in New South Wales between City and Country representative sides. The City side represents the Sydney metropolitan area...
. He is an Indigenous Australian. His nephew Tyrone Peachey is in the Cronulla Sharks Toyota Cup team.
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 CampbellPreston Campbell
Preston Campbell, is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League...
and Nathan Blacklock
Nathan Blacklock
Nathan Blacklock is an Australian former rugby league and rugby union player who primarily played as a winger.-Playing career:...
– 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
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
.
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 RaidersCanberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
at Toyota Park.
Over the next few seasons Peachey quickly established himself as a first team regular in the Sharks' first grade side. His broken running and unexpected flashes of magic consistently dazzled not only home but also away crowds and he soon became a strong fan favourite within the league
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
.
In 1999, David Peachey was presented with the Dally M
Dally M Awards
The Dally M Awards are the official annual player awards for the National Rugby League competition. The most prestigious of these awards is the Dally M Medal which is only ever awarded to Australian born Players...
award for Fullback of the Year. Peachey was selected at fullback for New South Wales in the 2000 State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
series. Unfortunately, a hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
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 long time coach John Lang
John Lang (rugby league)
John Lang is an Australian former rugby league football coach and player. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative hooker, he played his club football in Brisbane with the Eastern Suburbs Tigers and in Sydney with the Eastern Suburbs Roosters...
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 .
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
Stuart Raper
Stuart Raper is an Australian former professional rugby league player and coach. He has since become a sideline commentator for the NRL with Foxsports...
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
The NRL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award-winning Australian sports variety television programme, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates. Following the success of the AFL program of the same name, the Nine Network quickly developed a version for the rugby league market. The rugby league version has...
that the club would no longer be retaining his services after twelve years of loyalty.
After his final match against for Cronulla, ironically a loss to Souths, played in wet conditions at night, Peachey left the formal farewell celebrations early to meet with his loyal 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. Said one Souths fan present "It was one of the most warm hearted gestures Ive ever seen in the game. His kind words of gratitude to the freezing fans made us feel special, when it was supposed to be his night. He's just an outstanding fellow, down to earth and very humbling."
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
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
club, Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
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.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 the 7th of July 2007 that David Peachy would retire from the game at the end of the season, 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
- Country: Represented Country Origin on one occasion in 2003
- State Of Origin: Played 1 game in total for New South Wales (2000)
- Australia: Played 1 game in total for his country
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 BoticaFrano Botica
Frano Michael Botica is a former rugby union and rugby league player who represented his country at both sports and also played for Croatia in a rugby union world cup qualifying match.-Rugby union:...
Peachey was heavily involved in the Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
playing NRL matches in Taupo
Taupo
Taupo is a town on the shore of Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the seat of the Taupo District Council and lies in the southern Waikato Region....
. In the build up to the 2011 match he spent six months in Taupo, the birthplace of his wife. While he was their he played club rugby league for the Taupo Phoenix in the Bay of Plenty Rugby League
Bay of Plenty Rugby League
Bay of Plenty Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand...
competition and trialled for the King Country Rugby Football Union
King Country Rugby Football Union
The King Country Rugby Football Union is a constituent union in the New Zealand Rugby Union. It is located in the central North Island of New Zealand...
side.