Ambitious Peacock wanting to run the game

England captain Jamie Peacock has revealed he plans to take the unusual step of entering rugby league’s administrative side when he finally brings the curtain down on his illustrious career.

The distinguished prop, 33, will undoubtedly be a key figure as Leeds Rhinos tackle Wigan Warriors in Saturday’s Carnegie Challenge Cup final.

As a player, featuring at Wembley is one of the few dreams he has yet to achieve given he missed last year’s loss to Warrington due to a serious knee injury and won the trophy with Bradford Bulls while it was on the road in Edinburgh and Cardiff.

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But Peacock – who has won Super League titles, World Club Challenges and the prestigious Man of Steel award – has started to think about what he will do when playing comes to an end.

While many colleagues have worked their way into coaching, his current Leeds chief and former Bradford team-mate Brian McDermott being one, Peacock has set his sights on the business aspect of the sport.

“A lot of players go into coaching and I feel I could, too, but it’s not what I want to do,” he said.

“I think I could make a better impact on the game from off the field rather than coaching the players on it.

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“I do want to move into administration when I finish and progress the game in that way.”

The passionate Yorkshireman has not been shy in offering his opinions on how rugby league should be run in recent years, often expressing controversial views and ideas.

Part of the reason the Magic Weekend in Cardiff was moved to the opening round of Super League this season was Peacock espousing the need for an explosive start to the campaign while he has recently called for the competition to be split into two tiers each of 10 teams to help improve overall standards.

“I’ve thought about the business side a lot over the last couple of years,” he added.

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“I realised that’s where I think my skills lie – doing it off the field.

“There’s a lot of good people at Leeds, such as Gary Hetherington, I can learn from in that role and certainly at the RFL as well.

“Whether it’s working for the both of them or working for someone else I don’t know yet.

“That’s a couple of years off yet but I think it would be very rewarding; as a coach you influence your squad but as an administrator you have the ability to influence the whole game.”

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Peacock – who down the road would love to run the RFL – believes it is imperative more players seek a similar career pathway to help improve the sport long term and add otherwise absent knowledge.

“Because you have such an insight into the game as a player you get to understand a lot about what does and doesn’t work within it,” he said. “You see it from the players’ side and then start to see it from the perspective of other people as well. You may see the likes of Jon Wilkin (St Helens and England) doing it also, and if me and Jon can become good at what we do, perhaps other players would follow.

“I think it would be better for the game throughout if that’s the case.”

Meanwhile, Peacock has launched a successful series of coaching camps for youngsters this summer.

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The knee reconstruction which forced him to miss that 30-6 Wembley defeat last year, as well as the Four Nations and the start of this Super League season, did allow him time to divert his energies.

“I had nine months off twiddling my thumbs,” said the experienced front-row, who is under contract until the end of 2013. “I was going to run one (camp) and it snowballed into six. I wanted to take it to places where there is no Super League club on the doorstep, so we’ve been to Oldham, Normanton, York and Dewsbury as well as a couple at my old club Stanningley in Leeds.

“It’s a chance to meet Super League stars.”

Peacock was heavily involved in the whole process of creating and running the courses which he admits whetted his appetite for planning his life after rugby.

“I’m very experienced as a rugby player but not so experienced at running a business,” he said.

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“This has been like a work experience for me. I set everything up myself and marketed it. It’s like learning on the job and it augurs well for me in the future.”

Peacock enlisted the help of a host of notable players and was hands-on himself at the camps, delighting the youngsters by throwing himself wholeheartedly into the games.

“I think it’s an important part of it,” he said. “Kids love it when you get involved and have a wrestle and a tackle. I committed to being at every day of every camp and I enjoyed it.”

Leeds depart Headingley Carnegie at 5pm today as they make the first part of their trip for Saturday’s showpiece event.

Injured duo Kallum Watkins and Carl Ablett will travel and face fitness tests tomorrow.

Tomorrow: Don’t miss Dave Craven’s exclusive Challenge Cup final double-page spread.