Peats sees bright side to missed chance
TITANS hooker Nathan Peats has revealed how blowing the chance to captain Parramatta drove him to become the NSW Origin No.9.
Peats will make his NRL return from a shoulder reconstruction at dummy-half for the Gold Coast in Sunday’s Round 1 clash against the Canberra Raiders at Cbus Super Stadium.
Peats was a contender to co-captain the Titans alongside Ryan James, however coach Garth Brennan ultimately opted for a sole skipper.
That hasn’t stopped Peats being the Gold Coast’s most vocal player at training and during games, with the Blues star regularly heard barking instructions at his teammates.
Peats’ competitiveness has never been questioned, but his emotions have often got the better of him. Now 27, and with 118 NRL appearances under his belt, Peats is a more composed player and said being overlooked for the Eels captaincy in 2015 was a poignant moment in his career.
Peats said Parramatta coach Brad Arthur told him he was in line to co-captain the club in 2015 following Jarryd Hayne’s departure to the NFL, only to later backflip.
“At the start of pre-season he told me ‘it’s probably you and Timmy this year. I’m going to sit back and watch how you go’. But I blew it in the pre-season. We never had a chat again. I obviously wasn’t up to it. I was a bit loose with my tantrums and attitude.
“It took me a couple more years to become a bit older and wiser. I’ve worked hard with Garth … I’m a lot better person on and off the field compared to three or four years ago.”