Realism hits home as Peacock opts to step back from his England role

FORMER England captain Jamie Peacock admits a fear of over-stretching himself has led to the difficult decision not to be involved with the national team for this year’s World Cup.

The Leeds Rhinos prop, 35, retired from the international game last June after helping England defeat the Exiles.

It brought a close to one of the most respected and distinguished careers at the highest level of the sport, with Peacock accepting a need to concentrate on his club football at Headingley.

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England head coach Steve McNamara was understandably keen to still somehow tap into all his vast experience and said there would be a support role for Peacock on his coaching staff as the national side prepared itself for the tournament this autumn.

However, Peacock yesterday revealed he will no longer be taking up that invite.

“I was, but I don’t think I am now,” he said.

“I’m doing a masters in sports business and administration and that’s taking up too much of my time – a huge amount – and with playing as well and having three kids I’d rather do two or three jobs really well than four averagely.

“In all fairness, if I committed to do the England job as well I just don’t have the time to do all jobs properly so, unfortunately, I won’t be involved.”

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So fiercely patriotic and proud of his history with England, it is a sign of Peacock’s professionalism that he has taken this decision and he admits McNamara was not overly surprised.

“I think he kind of suspected it might have been coming,” he added.

“He totally understands about chewing off too much and it’s better to do a couple of jobs properly than three average.

“Obviously, it’ll be down to someone else to do that role now.

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“I’ll still speak to Steve now and then and if he needs any advice he can ring me but I don’t imagine he would; he’s got plenty of depth there with the staff he has at the moment.”

All of which begs the question how will Kevin Sinfield cope, the Leeds captain who succeeded Peacock as leader of the international side but is also studying for the same degree at Leeds Metropolitan University?

“I think it’ll open his eyes a bit to how much does go on with being the captain,” said the ex-Bradford Bulls star, who made his England debut in the 2000 World Cup.

“It’s not just a playing job. There’s more than that.

“But if one man can do that job very well it’s Kevin. He’s used to being Leeds captain and he’ll go well.”

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Peacock admits the decision to call time on his international career last summer facilitated a return to his best form and helped him drive Leeds to yet another Grand Final success in October.

Furthermore, it has allowed him to enjoy a full off-season break for the first time since 1999, and he is now feeling the benefits ahead of the new campaign which starts at home against Hull FC a week tomorrow.

It does highlight, though, the problems McNamara’s current squad may entail after they played on until the end of November.

“As an international player you could just say that pre-seasons don’t count but actually being involved in one shows they do,” said Peacock.

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“The gains I’ve got physically have been quite substantial and the international players just don’t get that in this country. It does hinder them.

“The players in the lower down clubs get a longer pre-season, I did this year too and in Australia they get that eight to ten week block as well, but the guys at the elite level here don’t.

“Some of our key players weren’t involved though – the likes of James Roby, Sam Burgess and James Graham – so they should feature strongly in the World Cup.”

Peacock explains how, ordinarily, he would not get up to his peak performance until the final 15 games of a Super League season after starting his training late due to international commitments.

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Now, though, he concedes “feeling game-fit already” as Leeds approach the new season, a significant boost for Brian McDermott’s side.

“The lack of responsibility with England has helped and helped concentrate on what I do at Leeds,” he admitted.

“I enjoyed being able to do that (last season) and knowing that the Grand Final would be the last game of the year no matter what.

“It was a bit of a bonus being able to throw everything into the cause for Leeds and hopefully it’ll be the same again this year.”

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Having played in a record 10 Grand Finals with, first Bradford Bulls and now their West Yorkshire rivals, Peacock’s appetite refuses to be sated.

In 2013, Hull are hoping to break Leeds’s recent monopoly of landing five Super League titles in the last six years and he can understand why they are being fancied.

“Daniel Holdsworth’s a great signing as is Gaz Ellis and Ben Galea,” said Peacock.

“They’ve got their sights on the top three and they improved a lot last year.

“Hopefully they’ll improve again. We’re not under-estimating them at all.”