Peats puts shoulder into Titans training

RUGBY LEAGUE: A shoulder reconstruction is unlikely to affect Nathan Peats’ season, with the Gold Coast hooker a chance of returning for the Titans’ final trial game.

The NSW Origin star’s 2017 season was hampered by the shoulder complaint but he has been front and centre during pre-season training under new coach Garth Brennan. Peats has regularly been leading the squad in fitness drills.

Brennan said Peats was a strong chance of playing the Warriors in a Sunshine Coast trial game on February 24.

The Titans’ only other trial game is against the Broncos on February 17 in Toowoomba, before they open their season proper at home against Canberra on March 11.

“Good, really good, ahead of schedule from what we can see,” Brennan said of his No.9. “Definitely round one he should be sweet to go and things going the way he’s tracking he’ll probably play that last trial.”

Brennan, meanwhile, admits he has inquired about Cronulla centre Ricky Leutele’s chances of joining the Titans.

Persistent rumours have linked the Brisbane-born 27-year-old to a move north.

Brennan confessed he did contact the Sharks about Leutele but was shut down, leaving him to view any such deal now as “news to me”.

“When I first got the job back in October, I made a phone call to the head of football at Cronulla (Phil Moss) who I know very well, who was also at Penrith with me,” he said.

“I asked about Ricky Leutele because I was looking for some experience and depth in the outside backs.

“I knew of the article last year where he was homesick and he was keen to come back home with his wife and his family but Cronulla have reassured me that they have taken some steps to ensure Ricky is settled in Cronulla.”