Tyrone Peachey's NRL dream began after watching his uncle David play for Cronulla in the 1999 grand final qualifier and now the Titans star wants to inspire a new generation of young Indigenous kids to do the same.
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Peachey, a former NSW representative, spoke to NRL.com recalling how time spent with fellow western area product David had impacted him.
It marked the first time the younger Peachey had been to Sydney, seen the beach or a two-storey house.
After the Sharks were beaten thanks to a hat-trick to St George Illawarra's Anthony Mundine, the eyes of Wellington's Peachey were opened to what he could achieve after watching two Indigenous stars dominate one of the biggest matches of the year.
Peachey has now established The Peach Project, after a series of recent tragedies in Wellington, and he is hopeful that he can have a similar influence by aiming to give boys or girls from the town the chance to attend Gold Coast matches this season.
"Back in Wellington there have been a few bad things happen," Peachey told NRL.com
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"Some young kids got hit by a car and passed away, before that a kid got into a fight and was stabbed and died. They were Indigenous.
"One thing I have learned over the years playing football is that I want to help and give back to my community, and the younger kids, so if I can give someone the opportunity to come to the Gold Coast and see what it is like to be a footballer that can hopefully change their lives.
"I just want to give them a chance to come to a game and hopefully come into the sheds and meet their idols.
"I knew from that day (watching my uncle) that I wanted to play football for a living and that is when my dream started so I am hoping that The Peach Project can change a kid's life like that and help them to figure out their goals."
After moving in with David at age 10, Tyrone witnessed the lifestyle of an NRL player and what it took to reach that level.
"He was a legend at Cronulla and to live with him at the time when he was in his prime and see the way everyone looked up to him, especially all the Indigenous kids, was awesome," he said.
"I want to give these kids an avenue to be able to do the same thing and open their eyes to the fact it is possible for someone from Wellington to be famous and be whoever they want be."
It was hoped that the initiative would have begun earlier but COVID-19 restrictions delayed it's launch and now Peachey is hoping to obtain some sponsorship or funding.
"I wanted to organise something for All Stars but it has been a bit hard with the borders being shut so we are hoping to get it up and running for the NRL season," Peachey said.
"We are going to pick kids who follow rugby league and have been going to school. We are going to check their attendances and if they are good kids we are going to give them the chance to either come to the Gold Coast or come to a Titans game.
"I just want to start this to give the kids a bit of hope and make them realise that what they can achieve."
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Tom Barber
I cover a mixture of news and sport for the Liberal after graduating from university in 2020. If you've got a story feel free to flick me a message tom.barber@austcommunitymedia.com.au
I cover a mixture of news and sport for the Liberal after graduating from university in 2020. If you've got a story feel free to flick me a message tom.barber@austcommunitymedia.com.au
