HOOKER PEATERS OUT AFTER ALMIGHTY EFFORT FOR BLUES
PAT Politoni has surged into contention for a Gold Coast Titans debut after star rake Nathan Peats declared himself an unlikely starter tomorrow night.
Peats was his typical uncompromising self in his maiden State of Origin appearance for NSW on Wednesday but struggled through the back half of the match with a badly corked thigh.
Blues coach Laurie Daley reported post-game that his No.9 was “hardly walking” while the man himself rated his chances of backing up against the Cowboys as: “I don’t think so”.
Peats played the full 80 minutes after getting some mid-match strapping and was spotted afterwards with a heavy dose of ice and tape around that thigh.
“I just got kneed right in the quad so yeah one of your good old fashioned corks,” Peats said.
Daley admitted he thought Peats’ Origin debut was set for an early finish.
“He’s a tough bugger and said no, I will battle it out,” Daley revealed.
“For a guy on debut in the middle, geez I thought he was good.”
The 26-year-old racked up 49 tackles against the Maroons but in Politoni the Titans could safely expect to lose little in the workrate department.
Politoni has made more than 40 tackles in each of the three Queensland Cup games he has played for Burleigh since returning from a broken arm suffered in a Titans trial.
The hard-nosed former Wests Tigers and Cronulla hooker told the Bulletin last month he maintained hope of winning a chance “to impress at a higher level” this season.
Politoni was named Gold Coast’s 18th man this week. Karl Lawton has also done a fine job at dummy-half when called upon and believes he is ready to play more minutes.
Peats’ likely absence would be a chance for either of his deputies to state their case for more game time and a 2018 contract.
Peats too is off contract, with Titans boss Graham Annesley indicating negotiations have slowed during the rep season.