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Family Thought
By Brad Forrest
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks fullback David Peachey said he went "walkabout" earlier this year, and drove to his home town of Dubbo to talk problems through with his family. On Saturday, about 20 family members will be flown to Sydney to celebrate first-hand Peachey topping 200 first-grade games, when he walks onto Toyota park to play South Sydney.
The Sharks' gesture to his extended family means a lot to Peachey, like his former team mate Andrew Ettingshausen a 'one club man' since joining the Sharks in 1993. Off contract at the end of the season, Peachey, 30, also knows this could be his last year with his beloved Sharks. "I'll just have to see how my body is coping and see whether the club still thinks I can still contribute" he said, in his 12th season with the club he's a life member of. "I have not really thought much about it, or about playing with anyone but the Sharks."
An idol to a generation of Aboriginal and Anglo-Celt players, both young and old, the big-striding Peachey in full flight is the team's most inspirational footballer, alongside fellow Test representatives, captain Brett Kimmorley, prop Jason Stevens and new centre Nigel Vagana. The former Australian and NSW State of origin representative is injury free for the first time in many years and says he is enjoying his footy with a team which, he believes, is like a "sleeping giant" in this tight NRL comp.
It wasn't that way at the start of the year, when Peachey's marriage break-down saw him walk out, temporarily, on the Sharks. "I went to yoga, dropped the kids at school...then drove straight past Toyota Park and training," he said. "It was a real spur of the moment thing and I just kept on driving until I got to Dubbo. I didn't tell anyone for a few days because I didn't want to involve the Sharks. Then I phoned Stuey (Stuart Raper) and he agreed I should take some time off.
Peachey spent most of the week with his mother Irene, step-dad Marto, his aunts and uncles and his nan, Joyce. They were the same family members who made sure a young, homesick Peachey returned to Cronulla a decade earlier. Like then, Peachey eventually returned to Sydney, but not before making a detour to a town in Victoria. "Helping out with a lift for a family member" he explained with a grin. "I couldn't let him down."
Peachey says he is sorry he let his team down and sorry he didn't discuss it with general manager Steve Rogers. "I missed a game and I should have spoken to Sludge. I went walkabout, but I'm not sorry I did it because I think I'm a better person and I'm much happier now." A dally M runner-up, fullback of the year in 2001, Peachey has won praise for his community service, winning the NRL's Ken Stephens memorial award and the National Indigenous Australia's Sportsperson of the Year for 2003, in a ceremony attended by a number of Aboriginal sporting greats, including Cathy Freeman and Anthony Mundine. The Macquarie Bank David Peachey Foundation today provides sporting opportunity to under-privileged youth in outback and regional areas, thanks to the footballer honoured as Australia Day ambassador for Sutherland Shire this year.
For Sharks coach Stuart Raper the wheel has turned full circle. He was in charge of the premiership winning Cronulla Under-21 Presidents Cup team when Peachey arrived in 1993. "Having been there when it started for Peach it's great for me to see him reach a fabulous milestone," Raper said. "And all at the one club shows great loyalty." Peachey is only the seventh player in Cronulla's history to top 200 games, having played 250 in all grades. He's closing in on 100 tries (96 scored) and with Andrew Ettingshausen shares the record for most tries in a season (19).
As part of the presentation to him, Peachey will be given the ball from Sunday's manly game which marked his 200th match. Cronulla incidently did the same for Manly last year after winger John Hopoate topped 200 first-grade games. Cronulla will be out to turn the table on a Souths side which shocked them to win 36-12 in round four at Aussie Stadium.
By Brad Forrest
Cronulla Sutherland Sharks fullback David Peachey said he went "walkabout" earlier this year, and drove to his home town of Dubbo to talk problems through with his family. On Saturday, about 20 family members will be flown to Sydney to celebrate first-hand Peachey topping 200 first-grade games, when he walks onto Toyota park to play South Sydney.
The Sharks' gesture to his extended family means a lot to Peachey, like his former team mate Andrew Ettingshausen a 'one club man' since joining the Sharks in 1993. Off contract at the end of the season, Peachey, 30, also knows this could be his last year with his beloved Sharks. "I'll just have to see how my body is coping and see whether the club still thinks I can still contribute" he said, in his 12th season with the club he's a life member of. "I have not really thought much about it, or about playing with anyone but the Sharks."
An idol to a generation of Aboriginal and Anglo-Celt players, both young and old, the big-striding Peachey in full flight is the team's most inspirational footballer, alongside fellow Test representatives, captain Brett Kimmorley, prop Jason Stevens and new centre Nigel Vagana. The former Australian and NSW State of origin representative is injury free for the first time in many years and says he is enjoying his footy with a team which, he believes, is like a "sleeping giant" in this tight NRL comp.
It wasn't that way at the start of the year, when Peachey's marriage break-down saw him walk out, temporarily, on the Sharks. "I went to yoga, dropped the kids at school...then drove straight past Toyota Park and training," he said. "It was a real spur of the moment thing and I just kept on driving until I got to Dubbo. I didn't tell anyone for a few days because I didn't want to involve the Sharks. Then I phoned Stuey (Stuart Raper) and he agreed I should take some time off.
Peachey spent most of the week with his mother Irene, step-dad Marto, his aunts and uncles and his nan, Joyce. They were the same family members who made sure a young, homesick Peachey returned to Cronulla a decade earlier. Like then, Peachey eventually returned to Sydney, but not before making a detour to a town in Victoria. "Helping out with a lift for a family member" he explained with a grin. "I couldn't let him down."
Peachey says he is sorry he let his team down and sorry he didn't discuss it with general manager Steve Rogers. "I missed a game and I should have spoken to Sludge. I went walkabout, but I'm not sorry I did it because I think I'm a better person and I'm much happier now." A dally M runner-up, fullback of the year in 2001, Peachey has won praise for his community service, winning the NRL's Ken Stephens memorial award and the National Indigenous Australia's Sportsperson of the Year for 2003, in a ceremony attended by a number of Aboriginal sporting greats, including Cathy Freeman and Anthony Mundine. The Macquarie Bank David Peachey Foundation today provides sporting opportunity to under-privileged youth in outback and regional areas, thanks to the footballer honoured as Australia Day ambassador for Sutherland Shire this year.
For Sharks coach Stuart Raper the wheel has turned full circle. He was in charge of the premiership winning Cronulla Under-21 Presidents Cup team when Peachey arrived in 1993. "Having been there when it started for Peach it's great for me to see him reach a fabulous milestone," Raper said. "And all at the one club shows great loyalty." Peachey is only the seventh player in Cronulla's history to top 200 games, having played 250 in all grades. He's closing in on 100 tries (96 scored) and with Andrew Ettingshausen shares the record for most tries in a season (19).
As part of the presentation to him, Peachey will be given the ball from Sunday's manly game which marked his 200th match. Cronulla incidently did the same for Manly last year after winger John Hopoate topped 200 first-grade games. Cronulla will be out to turn the table on a Souths side which shocked them to win 36-12 in round four at Aussie Stadium.
