Jamie Peacock recently hung a motivational sign in his bathroom. “How do I want to be remembered,” it says. “That’s not by the people watching, that’s by the people I play against,” the 37-year-old Leeds Rhinos prop said. “What’s the feeling of those players playing against me? As a man on his way out, or one still at the top of his game?”
Hull Kingston Rovers, today’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup final opponents at Wembley, know full well that the totemic Peacock remains at the peak of his powers as he homes in on a first clean sweep by Leeds of the three domestic trophies before he joins them next season as rugby manager.
Sentiment for his new employers on their first Wembley appearance for 29 years? Hardly. “I’m pleased they’re there, but that’s as far it goes,” he said. “I’ve wished Neil Hudgell [the Rovers chairman] all the best and he did the same. We’re both determined people and want to be successful. Unfortunately, one of us is going to be a loser Saturday night.”
A triumvirate of cup, League Leaders’ Shield and Grand Final success is the former England captain’s ambition in his last six weeks as a player, whose first cup triumph came against Leeds with Bradford Bulls in 2000 at Murrayfield. Peacock was a late developer and, in the twilight of his playing days, still sets the benchmark through inspirational workrate and leadership.
He could have taken up an office role at Leeds. However, the easy route simply did not suit an icon of the Super League era, for whom perseverance and sacrifice have been guiding principles.
Advertisement
“I wanted a job where you could be challenged,” he said. “You lose a lot of challenges when you finish playing and have to find them elsewhere. That’s what I’ve gone and done. If I was working at Leeds, it’s that well run I’m not sure what the challenges would be. I mean that in the greatest respect to Leeds and the management, but I want to work somewhere where I’ll live or die by the sword.”
On the sport’s 120th anniversary, few have had Peacock’s impact. “I’ve had a couple more moments than usual reflecting that I’ve been pretty lucky,” he said. “I’ve got a safety net up for myself, thinking that if I don’t win everything and it doesn’t all work out, I’ve still had a good career. That’s the only reason I’ve been looking back.”
Peacock and his Leeds team-mates will draw on last year’s Wembley triumph against Castleford Tigers, which ended a record run of six final defeats. The atmosphere on the coach to the stadium was unlike anything Peacock had experienced before, or expects today “with that monkey off our backs”.
“Normally our bus is pretty relaxed, but it was the most serious I’d ever seen,” he said. “I thought, this is way too serious. I’d won it before [twice with Bradford], so I’d never felt that pressure. I started taking the p*** out of a few people to try to break the ice and relax them a bit. There was some false laughing. Eventually I won a few over.
“There are world-class players in this Leeds team and we’re fortunate to have them. The key is the ethos the coaching staff have created. You can have the best players, but if you haven’t the right environment, you aren’t going to win anything. We’ve the potential, but we’re at the crucial time of the year. Now we’ve to deliver.”
Advertisement
Leeds did not buckle 12 months ago and a Wembley farewell beckons him and the Yorkshire Carnegie-bound Kevin Sinfield, who said of Peacock: “He was a go-to person as soon as he joined Leeds ten years ago.
“The support I’ve had from him as captain has been enormous and the part he’s played in helping this club continue to win trophies and the legacy he leaves are huge. He’s probably the greatest signing the club’s ever made.”
Brian Noble appointed Peacock the Bradford and Great Britain captain. Moreover, he helped to keep him in the sport when Matthew Elliott, Noble’s predecessor as Bulls coach, reckoned that the gangly youth would not make it.
“Sometimes he looks like his whole world has fallen apart then he comes up with a game-breaking, world-class, unbelievable play,” Noble said. “It’s a salutary lesson, whatever obstacles are put in your way, you can get through or over them as he’s done.”
In the cup final 15 years ago, Brian McDermott triumphed alongside Peacock in the Bradford pack.
Advertisement
“To have been a big player on the big stage, so consistently and over such a long period he’d have to be the best,” the Leeds head coach said.
How they line up
Hull KR: K Dixon; J Mantellato, K Welham, J Salter, K Sio; M Blair, A Kelly; A Walker, S Lunt, T Puletua, K Larroyer, G Horne, T McCarthy (captain). Interchange: J Boudebza, J Donaldson, J Green, D Tilse.
Leeds Rhinos: Z Hardaker; T Briscoe, K Watkins, J Moon, R Hall; K Sinfield (captain), D McGuire; M Garbutt, A Cuthbertson, J Peacock, C Ablett, D Ward, B Delaney. Interchange: M Achurch, B Singleton, R Burrow, K Leuluai.
Referee: B Thaler.
Advertisement
Routes to final: Hull KR: fifth round, Bradford (a) 50-30; sixth round, Wigan (a) 16-12; quarter-final, Catalans (h) 32-26; semi-final, Warrington, 26-18. Leeds: sixth round, Huddersfield (h) 48-16; quarter-final, Hull (a) 24-6; semi-final, St Helens 24-14.