Tyrone Peachey plans on being NSW’s silent assassin on Wednesday night but admits he has Nathan Cleary’s misfortune to thank for not going unnoticed by Blues selectors.
Peachey rocketed into State of Origin contention off the back of a stellar run at five-eighth for Penrith, backing up the belief the zippy utility can play just about anywhere on the field.
But if it wasn’t for a sliding door moment when Cleary went down injured against Canterbury in round three, it’s unlikely Peachy would be in Melbourne preparing for his Blues debut.
Peachey started at centre in the opening round of the season for Penrith, but after players returned the following week he spent 62 minutes pacing the sideline and sitting on the bench against South Sydney before running on to score the match-winning try.
And had it not been for Penrith’s run of injuries – and most notably Cleary’s in the halves – it’s likely the 26-year-old would’ve spent more time on the pine and less impressing Blues coach Brad Fittler.
“I’ve thought about that,” Peachy said.
“I’m happy with the way it all worked out. I’m sad that Nathan got injured but I don’t think I would have been here if that didn’t happen.
“I’m very thankful that Nathan made the team as well as all the other Panther players. So I’m stoked to be here.”
Peachey’s selection allows him to follow in the footsteps of his uncle David Peachey, who scored a try in his only game for the Blues in 2000.
The pair are yet to speak this week, but Wednesday’s debut at the MCG completes Peachey’s dream of growing up and wanting to be like the former Cronulla fullback.
“I remember that game watching, all the family and that were watching. I’m just excited to play. I can’t wait to get on the field and just experience it,” he said.
Peachey revealed last week he would play a similar role to what he did in the round-two defeat of Souths if all goes to plan on Wednesday night.
Barring injuries – where he can replace players virtually anywhere – Peachey has prepared to come on at lock or hooker in the middle field with a license to roam.
And it’s there he hopes to be the biggest beneficiary of the Blues’ pace out wide.
“There’s a lot of people that Queensland have to watch with the Fox (Josh Addo-Carr) and Turbo (Tom Trbojevic),” he said.
“I’m just hoping that when I get on there they don’t even worry about me. I’ll just be like a little silent assassin and hopefully come away with a sneaky try or something.
“That would be pretty good.”
