Peachey still a Shark in 2005

Sharks star fullback David Peachey has signed off on a new contract that will see him remain at the Cronulla club in 2005.

A favourite with Sharks fans in a 10-year NRL career, Peachey has given outstanding service to the Sharks since arriving from Dubbo as a 21-year-old back in 1993. During those 10 years Peachey has played representative football with the Country Origin team, for the NSW State of Origin side, while also turning out for Australia in a Super League test match in 1997.

In more recent times, Peachey has become a role model for aboriginal and under-privileged youth, conducting football and sporting clinics at numerous venues around NSW country regions. With a great deal of conjecture surrounding his contract negotiations, Peachey was happy to have his future secured and to be able to concentrate on his playing the standard of football for which he is known during the important games facing the Sharks in the run home to the semi finals.

"I?m very pleased that we?ve been able to come to an agreement and that I?ll be staying at the Sharks next season," Peachey said. "This is where it all started for me and I?ve never really wanted to play anywhere else. This secures my future for next year and lets me get on with playing some good football for the Sharks."

Sharks General Manager Steve Rogers was equally pleased to have Peachey?s signature on the dotted line and was looking forward to the Sharks fullback making a strong contribution both this season and next.

"We believe David still has a lot to offer the club and are very happy that he has decided to remain at the Sharks for at least another year," Rogers said. "And although we have agreed to a one year deal, Peach and I will be sitting down again at this time next year to discuss whether or not he may have another year in him after that. I guess that will be up to him and will depend on how he performs between now and then. We have no doubt he has plenty of good football left in him."

In the immediate future, Peachey was scheduled to have scans on his injured quadriceps muscle on Wednesday and is positive about his prospects of playing in the local derby against St George Illawarra this weekend.

The Sharks medical staff, coach Stuart Raper and Peachey himself will make a decision as to his availability on Sunday, later in the week. At this stage he has been named on a 5-man bench but if fit is almost certain to take his place in the side at fullback.