Panther 448
101 matches [2005; 2007; 2014-2018]
92 points [14 tries, 16 goals, 4 field goals]
Stats: themightypanthers.com/players_wallace-peter.htm
St. Marys junior who made his first grade debut at five-eighth against the Raiders in Canberra in 2005.
Whilst named in the 2006 first grade squad, he would have to wait until the opening round of the 2007 season to make his second NRL appearance – he was viewed as the club’s first choice five-eighth after the departure of 2003 premiership winner Preston Campbell to the Gold Coast Titans.
His form early in the 2007 season, including a long range field goal in golden point to defeat the Broncos in only his fourth match saw Wallace being viewed as one of the hottest young prospects in the NRL. Off contract, the Panthers could not match the offer made by the Brisbane Broncos, and at season’s end would head up north – but not before making 19 appearances that season.
He would play six seasons at Brisbane, which included four appearances for New South Wales and playing for Scotland in the 2013 World Cup.
Wallace would make a return to the Panthers for the 2014 season. He immediately was named as captain (initially sharing it with new recruits Jamie Soward and Brent Kite) and playing at halfback. He had gained a reputation for his toughness, none better demonstrated than playing most of the match against Cronulla in Bathurst in 2014 with a knee injury – whilst he completed the match, it ended his season.
He was a key part of Penrith’s horror injury list of 2015, making only 13 appearances.
He would lose the captaincy for the 2016 season, however, a move early in the season to hooker seemed to reinvigorate his career, which led to a 2 year contract extension, and played a key part in the Panthers run to the second week of the finals series.
By 2017, Wallace would be seen as the club’s first choice hooker and would regain the captaincy late in the 2017 season, leading Penrith into an all too rare consecutive finals series appearance.
2018 saw him appointed club captain again, making his 100th appearance for the Panthers against the Cowboys in Bathurst.
However, soon after, persistent knee injuries forced his retirement. He remained at the club, initially as a trainer before being appointed as assistant to caretaker coach Cameron Ciraldo later in the 2018 season. Wallace was also awarded the club person of the year award at the end of the season.
Wallace retained the role of assistant coach, and in 2020 was appointed the Canterbury Cup (reserve grade) coach, although it was a short stint as the season was cancelled after one match due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However he was made part of the “bubble” that was a COVD-19 requirement upon the resumption of the NRL season in May, being on the coaching staff. In 2022, he returned as NSW Cup who ultimately won the premiership / state championship double, and in 2023 will once again be a part of the NRL coaching staff, being an assistant to Ivan Cleary.
Last updated 11 November 2022
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