AS JAMIE Peacock prepares for his testimonial match against the Bulls on Sunday, the legendary forward is already planning for his retirement.

The 37-year-old will hang up his boots at the end of the season and hopes to secure a position in the game's corridors of power.

It could be at Red Hall, it could be at Headingley, but he will swap the changing room for the boardroom and his Leeds jersey for a smart suit.

Peacock is currently studying for a Masters degree in sports business at Leeds Beckett University along with Rhinos team-mate Kevin Sinfield.

His old pal and current Bradford chief executive Robbie Hunter-Paul believes Peacock's knowledge, experience and strong opinions must not be lost to the sport.

"Can I see JP taking a job in administration when he finishes playing? One hundred per cent," said Hunter-Paul, who like Peacock carries out regular media work as a BBC pundit.

"He's got a passion for the game and he's a very intelligent guy. He doesn't let his emotions get the better of him and he's a smart thinker.

"It's vital that we have guys like JP in positions of power and making important decisions in rugby league.

"The supporters are the lifeblood who keep this great sport of ours pumping.

"But guys like myself, Steve Ferres and Gary Hetherington who have played the game have an intimate understanding of the core product because it's at the heart of everything we do."

Hunter-Paul, of course, has already trodden the path that Peacock is aiming to follow.

The New Zealander gained a sport marketing degree and began working at Huddersfield Giants in a commercial role when he retired from playing.

He returned to his spiritual home at Odsal in June 2013, first as deputy director before assuming the position of CEO three months later.

The Kiwi recalled: "I had a real passion to get involved in the game after I finished playing.

"I brought a different perspective to the table through the eyes of an athlete and I was a supporter anyway because I've always loved rugby league.

"Then I started learning the trade of being an administrator and what is important to the business of sport.

"It's about being able to think long-term and I think that's what JP has a great ability to do. He's a smart guy and we have talked at length about planning ahead over the next two, three and four years.

"That's the sort of thinking that we need in the game – short and long-term strategic thinking."

Peacock and Hunter-Paul remain close friends following their long association in the all-conquering Bradford side of yesteryear.

Hunter-Paul is just under two years older than Peacock and the pair speak regularly about working in the game after retirement.

"I wouldn't call it advice but, through conversations, JP has picked my brains about how I went about it," said Hunter-Paul, who is carrying out ten events designed to celebrate ten years of the Bradford Bulls Foundation, the club's official charity of which he is a trustee.

"Different people do it a different way. I called Gary Hetherington and asked if I could sit down with him.

"I used my network – I spoke to Peter Hood and Ryan Duckett when they were at the Bulls, Richard Thewlis at Huddersfield and Nigel Wood and Blake Solly at the RFL.

"I was doing two things there; letting people know what I was interested in doing, and at the same time learning as I went along."

Peacock is the most decorated player in Super League history after playing in ten Grand Finals and winning eight of them – three with Bradford and five at Leeds.

Hunter-Paul said: "There is no-one who can compare with the amount of silverware that JP has won – and you know what's so wonderful about JP?

"He was about to get scrapped – he was so close to that – so I take my hat off to Brian Noble and Matty Elliott.

"They saw that he had something and they stuck with him.

"I remember when I first came across JP. He was a skinny little kid who used to get bashed by all our international forwards.

"The young lads were cannon fodder and basically had to launch themselves at first-team players so we could practice our tackle technique.

"They used to get absolutely pounded but I guess that was the best breeding ground.

"I don't think he really broke that duck until he was 22 or 23. Once he did, it was like, 'who is this guy?'

"But with the game finishing at under-19 level before going professional, how much talent are we now losing?

"There is a great argument against that and JP, being a late developer, is living proof of it.

"He thoroughly deserved his MBE and he's a brilliant person as well. He's very unselfish, works so hard for the team and is a natural leader.

"He will carry the ball into the teeth of the storm and do a million tackles. He deserves every accolade that comes his way."