Tyrone Peachey on the attack against the Canberra Raiders at Sharks Stadium Source: Getty Images
TYRONE Peachey made his NRL debut for Cronulla under the tightest of reins.
The rookie wasn’t allowed to tell anyone - not even his uncle and champion Sharks fullback, David - as the club looked to keep an injury to Luke Lewis under wraps.
“I called my mum and before I could even tell her not to tell anyone she was already on the phone messaging people,” Peachey said after his team’s 30-20 win over Canberra.
“It was crazy. When I found out I couldn’t stop smiling. I smiled all week. I’m just happy that I played today.
“I always looked up to (David) when he played at the Sharks and I wanted to play. The way it happened has worked out pretty well - both debuting for the same club.”
Peachey, 22, has already been a star performer for Cronulla in the NSW Cup this season. He has managed 12 tries in 10 games in a team that sits on top of the table after winning 11 straight games.
Yesterday he came up with a piece of magic in the 52nd minute to ensure his future will be just as bright in first grade. With the Sharks in front 24-10, he was put into a hole on the 40 metre line and swerved his way around the defence before chipping ahead for himself.
The Sharks forward regathered the ball after getting into a tangle with Matt McIlwrick which led to the Canberra hooker hitting the turf. Winger Edrick Lee closed in but Peachey managed to skip out of his tackle to score to bring the crowd to its feet.
Unfortunately, the decision was sent upstairs for video referees Steve Chiddy and Luke Patten to rule on following the contact with McIlwrick. They both found that Peachey had taken out McIlwrick and disallowed the try.
“It was so close and I was just happy to pull it off,” Peachey said.
“If I didn’t pull it off I would have looked like an idiot.
“it was 50-50. Benefit of the doubt would have been good if that was still there.
“I’m just happy with the game I played.”
While Peachey was diplomatic about the ruling, Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan was stunned at the decision to disallow the try. It allowed the Raiders to fight their way back into the game at 24-20 before Andrew Fifita scored with 10 minutes to go to clinch the result.
“That’s a try every day for me,” Flanagan said.
“Peachey was looking at the ball, chasing the ball, the bloke’s tripped over and to take that away from him was hard luck for the kid and for us.”
Stand-in captain Wade Graham said he wasn’t upset that the try was disallowed for the Sharks when the game was on line. He was more disappointed that Peachey didn’t leave Sharks Stadium with a memorable moment for his highlights reel.
“I feel more sorry for Peachey to tell you the truth,” Graham said.
“That would have been a moment to go down in his whole career.
“To take it away from him is a bit unfair.”
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