Peacock recharged following his date at the Palace

In no way is the Leeds Rhinos prop detracting from his proud experience of receiving an MBE from Her Majesty.

Indeed, attending Buckingham Palace to collect the illustrious medal was one of his greatest and most pleasurable occasions.

However, considering what else happened in the build-up to last Wednesday’s regal appointment, primarily a starring role in Leeds’s magnificent World Club Challenge win over Manly, it is no surprise Peacock was left breathless.

Talking to the Yorkshire Post, he said: “It was an amazing week and a draining one.

“You come off the back of the World Club Challenge already a bit emotionally drained and then have a big couple of days going down there to London.

“I must admit, I thought I was pretty shot on Thursday.

“It was an amazing week, though, one of the best in my life.”

Peacock – having become the first player to win four World Club Challenge titles – travelled south to London a week ago with his wife Faye and children.

It was perhaps no surprise then that Leeds coach Brian McDermott afforded him a rest for Sunday’s game at bottom-placed Widnes, allowing him to recharge mentally more than anything, but he is expected to return as the champions continue their title defence at Castleford on Friday.

Peacock had been awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours list for his services to the game and, magnanimous as always, admitted the recognition it had brought the entire sport was its most gratifying aspect.

Seeing his family enjoy the rich splendour of the occasion also proved a highlight.

“They probably appreciated it a bit more than myself,” added the Yorkshireman, who has amassed a record seven Super League titles with Leeds and Bradford.

“Obviously, they’ve enjoyed watching me in finals and things like that but they really enjoyed the day. They were a really big part of it, nearly as involved as myself. I’d not been there (Buckingham Palace) before as it had been something I was saving to do when the kids are a little bit older.

“But I do like London and all its history. It was great to be there.

“She (The Queen) asked how long I’d been playing, asked if I enjoyed the game and finished with saying it is a great team sport which I agreed with her.”

Like any competitive sportsman, Peacock has never been one to take kindly to missing fixtures but he understands how the extended break last weekend will have aided him.

At 34, he knows he needs to manage his body as well as possible if he wants to extend his record-breaking career to the 2013 World Cup and maybe beyond.

He will want to repeat the excellent form which underpinned Leeds’s charge to Grand Final glory last season after his return from a career-threatening knee reconstruction.

But such is Leeds’s current front-row strength, they were also able to omit Peacock’s fellow England prop Ryan Bailey at Widnes and still come away with a comfortable 44-16 win.

Richard Moore, a former Bradford team-mate, made his Super League bow for Rhinos and Grand Final winner Ian Kirke returned after missing the Manly cut.

With Darrell Griffin, Kylie Leuluai and a raft of young props making waves at the club, Peacock realises he must keep on with his own stellar performances – but he thrives on such challenges.

“There are plenty of faces, plenty of quality people fighting to get in for those four prop places so it puts pressure on everyone,” he said. “But that’s good. Everyone wants to perform. That’s important if you want to stay in the team.

“It was good to have a breather. Obviously, you want to play in every game but you’ve got to think of the bigger picture and I want to be as fit as possible at the end of the year.”

However, he does not envisage sitting out more fixtures to save his reserves and fulfil his aim of leading England in the World Cup here at the end of next season.

“I don’t think it’s a case of that as I’m just looking after myself for this year really,” he said.

“When 2013 comes I’ll take that as it comes. My focus is this year at the moment and we’ll see what happens next.”

Peacock’s towering, indefatigable display against Australian premiers Manly reminded any doubters he remains one of the world’s leading forwards.

It would be foolish to write him off leading England’s charge in 18 months.

Likewise, Peacock is not as fatuous to underestimate Castleford as their West Yorkshire rivals bid to avoid a fourth successive loss.

“We’ll probably look at the video of the way they’ve played in those last three games and the team that turns up on Friday will be completely different,” he said.

“It’s always the same when we go play at Castleford – it’s one of their big matches of the year and we know that.

“We realise we have to turn up and play as well as we can or we’ll get embarrassed and they’ll win.”

Hull KR second-row Con Mika appears before the RFL disciplinary committee tonight facing a potential two-game ban if found guilty of a dangerous tackle on Warrington’s Stefan Ratchford.