PENRITH supremo Phil Gould has broken down in tears at the club’s presentation night on Wednesday.

Gould was about to pay tribute to departing players Tyrone Peachey and Corey Harawira-Naera when he was overcome with emotion.

“Sorry ... I’m glad he’s not here,” Gould started off.

“Tyrone Peachey means so much to me, this kid ... I don’t even know if I can do this.

“I remember having a conversation with Tyrone, he was playing in the lower grades at Cronulla and we recognised him as a unique talent. At that time, we didn’t know which position he was going to play.

“I remember talking to our coach at the time Ivan Cleary. He said what position is he, I said I don’t know, just get him out there, something will happen. And that’s the way he’s played for us right throughout his career.

“At the time, he sat down and he was so humble. He said why are you asking me to come to Panthers? And I said because I believe you’re an NRL player of the future and I believe you’ll be an Origin player and thankfully both things happened at our club.”

Gould went on to recall the time the club brought over Harawira-Naera, along with James Fisher-Harris, from Northland in New Zealand.

“They came over here with nothing more than a dream,” Gould said.

“I think their first accommodation was out at the horse stalls in Fernhill Equestrian Centre.

“They lived with the horses and worked on the property up there.”

Peachey will join Gold Coast next season on a three-year deal, while Harawira-Naera will be at Canterbury until 2022.

Gould said both departures came down to salary cap restraints.

“As we improve and players become more valuable, it’s going to be harder and harder to keep players,” he said.

“ ... Those two players meant a lot to me, they’ll always be Panthers and they’ll always be welcome at this club.

“I’m only buoyed by the fact they got great deals and can set their families up for life with the deals that they have.

“We wish them all the very best of luck.”