Peachey was in and out of the top grade during his one season at the Tigers, despite being in the leadership group.

“I didn’t play the footy I knew I could play,” he said. “I wasn’t in the mindset I should have been.”

Peachey could not believe it when Penrith coach Ivan Cleary contacted him about a potential homecoming. Peachey lives a few streets away from the Panthers Academy, and he and Cleary are good mates. The coach attended Peachey’s wedding, and their respective wives were good friends.

“I wanted to give it one last crack here, finish strong and help this team win a third premiership,” Peachey said.

“Ivan has always been honest with me. He told me I hadn’t played good footy the last few years, it would be hard and, ‘I hope you’re ready for it’.”

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Peachey has already lost six kilograms since weighing 97kg for day one of pre-season training.

“The last time I was at 91kg was when I was here [at Penrith],” Peachey said. “I’ve never hit triple digits. They train hard out here. I’m trying to get a bit lower again.”

Peachey can play in the centres, slot into the halves, fill the vacancy in the back row created by the departure of Viliame Kikau or prove a handy dummy-half option, especially with Mitch Kenny about to start his first full year as the starting No.9 following Api Koroisau’s departure.

Penrith love the fact he is an old-fashioned footballer who can hold his own in the starting line-up. Now 31, Peachey did not need reminding he is easily the oldest player at the club. He can still recall Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo making their first-grade debuts before going on to join the game’s elite ranks.

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