Bulls win is fondest Headingley memory for Peacock

There is, of course, a caveat; all his finest Leeds Rhinos memories came in countless finals away from the home where the redoubtable prop will play one last time tonight.

Retiring Peacock, who knows the Super League semi-final against St Helens will be his last competitive match if the hosts lose, has given 10 years remarkable service to his home-town club.

He hopes the Grand Final at Old Trafford next Saturday will be his eventual swansong before becoming Hull KR football manager.

But Peacock, 37, admits his best memory of the old Headingley stadium is an unexpected one.

“I can pick one that stands out in my mind but it was playing for Bradford when we beat Leeds in a really close derby in 2003,” said the former England captain, who moved to Rhinos two years later.

“I made a break and passed on my inside for Forsh (Michael Forshaw) to score. It was about 30 degrees and a really balmy Headingley night. But in a Leeds shirt the best times have been in finals which is good itself.”

Peacock is relishing going up against Man of Steel nomination Alex Walmsley, the 25-year-old former Batley Bulldogs prop he is backing for an England call-up versus New Zealand,

“He’s incredibly difficult to tackle and, though there are others like that, you only see them three or four times a game,” he said. “You see Walmsley 20 or 30 times. He is relentless, doesn’t take a backward step and they are the qualities you need as a front-rower.

“He’s improved as the year’s gone on, his defence has got better and he could change the momentum of the game off the bench against the Kiwis.”