Cockayne talks up Peacock’s impact

Hull Kingston Rovers player Ben Cockayne expects Jamie Peacock to have a massive impact on the squad.

Peacock shocked the sport when he announced he was stepping out of retirement to play for the club, as they look to avoid relegation.

The 38-year-old, who retired at the end of last season after winning the treble with Leeds, trained with the players for the first time on Tuesday and is in contention to play against London.

Having trained with Peacock for the first time, Cockayne believes his presence will benefit the Rovers squad.

“I think it will definitely be a big boost to the group,” Cockayne told TotalRL.

“Mentally he’s definitely tough enough and he looks in great condition, but he hasn’t played for 12 months so I don’t think it would be fair to expect him to burst in and be the same Jamie Peacock that he was last year. But in terms of his leadership, it is second to none and it will be a great boost to the players.

“He’s always had some input, not so much on how we train or play, but how we should be mentally going into games, so he has had an input in that side of things. He’s never been the type of guy to take a backwards step. I don’t think this a challenge he ever envisaged, but one he will rise to because he’s that type of bloke with that aura about him.”