Peacock Wants Tri-Nations Glory

Captain Peacock – as he has become known – was handed the captaincy last term after an injury to Paul Sculthorpe, and the Saints loose forward will be undergoing knee surgery this time around.

This gives Peacock the chance to make up for the disappointment of the last tournament, and he is confident of lifting the Tri-Nations trophy in Sydney.

He said: "I can't wait for it – it's something I will be really proud to do. But I don't want to go there and think that's it. I want to go there and win it.

"And, if you look at the squad, I think we will have a good shot at it. There is quite a lot of experience but some great young players in there as well.

"The main thing that's going to help us is that the coaching has improved throughout every club in Super League so all the players coming in now are pretty good and used to most systems."

After Leeds Rhinos shock defeat at the hands of Warrington wolves in the engage Super League play-offs, Peacock will have plenty of time to make his preparations for the trip down under.

Although disappointed at missing out on the chance to make the Old Trafford Grand Final, Peacock admits that this resting time will be a benefit.

"That was the only silver lining," he continued. "I'll get three weeks when I'm not playing rugby. I can get some good training and I won't be feeling tired come the Tri-Nations."

Peacock will captain a Great Britain team made up of those players not involved in the Grand Final in a Tri-Nations warm-up against a Newcastle Select XIII on October 20th.

The tournament gets under way on the 14th for the Lions when they meet holders New Zealand in Auckland.