WHOLE NEW BALL GAME
Maroons star Smith says Titans’ Nathan Peats offers Blues different look at dummy-half for Origin series
TOUGH, accurate, hardedged defence is what new NSW hooker Nathan Peats will bring to the table, according to his opposite number for next week’s Origin opener at Suncorp Stadium.
It’s a fair wrap considering that praise is coming from arguably the greatest dummyhalf to play the game, champion Melbourne and Maroons skipper Cameron Smith.
The Blues on Monday officially ended the Robbie Farah era – somewhat against expectation – in favour of a fresh face: 26-year-old debutant rake Nathan Peats from the Gold Coast Titans.
Farah had long been a cornerstone of the NSW side, playing 14 of the last 15 Origin matches.
However, Laurie Daley and the Blues selectors have this time put their faith in Peats, a man who Smith says brings a vastly different set of qualities to his predecessor.
“He’s a different style of dummy-half to Robbie Farah who has been playing there for quite a long time now,” Smith said.
“He’s a tough defender and obviously he is an 80-minute player too so I think he just gives their team and particularly their forward pack a bit of continuity through their middle, they know that there is going to be one bloke there for the entire match.
“I guess the strongest part of his game is his defence and that’s what is needed at Origin level.
“Robbie is slightly different, he has got a strong kicking game – he’s a big threat out of dummy-half with his kicking.
“He tends to ball-play a little bit more but in saying that Nathan can do both.”
Essentially, the picture is painted: Farah, a crafty playmaker, replaced at No.9 by Peats, a rugged defender offering a far more direct style of attack.
But Smith knows first-hand not to underestimate Peats’ creative abilities, having gone head-to-head with him only 11 days ago as the former Parramatta and South Sydney player helped orchestrate a 38-36 Titans win over the Storm.
“I played him a couple of weeks ago and he actually set up three tries against our side so he has got plenty of skill about him,” he said.
“I don’t think we are going to be changing too much of the way we sort of defend around him (compared with Farah).”
Smith’s Storm teammate Will Chambers added his two cents’ worth following his latest experience taking on Peats.
“He is aggressive in defence and he is pretty sharp and nippy around the ruck,” Chambers said.
“He’s good with the ball and if you are loose around the ruck he will make you pay. He’d been knocking on the door to play Origin for a few years now.”
Peats has lifted the Titans’ fortunes since returning in Round 7 from a shoulder injury. The club have won three of five matches, compared with one of six while he was out.