Blues hooker eyes brand new berth
NATHAN Peats is expected to become a father of two today, a week before he presses his case to lock up NSW’s No.9 jersey for years to come.
Peats’ partner, Jade Morris, Ruka is due to give birth to the couple’s second son today and the State of Origin thirdgamer is on standby to leave the Blues camp at any moment.
The 26-year-old cut a calm figure at Kingscliff yesterday at a time when he could be forgiven for feeling flustered.
“Hopefully he comes naturally,” Peats said.
“There’s no rush, there’s plenty of time between now and the game so yeah we’ll take it as it is.
“I’m only about 15 minutes from home and I’m a phone call away so it’ll all be fine.”
The Gold Coast Titans star is not alone in that boat as NSW prepares to ambush Suncorp Stadium to claim a rare series win, with camp roommate Andrew Fifita also expecting a new addition to his family.
“I think he is a couple of days after me,” Peats said.
“He’s a bit more private with that kind of stuff so I’ll leave it to that I guess with him.”
Peats is fired up to return to the scene of his triumphant Origin debut in May and knows a big performance next week at Suncorp Stadium would do wonders in setting him up for an extended stint in the sky blue.
“That’s the goal,” he said. “You can never cement your job but you want to go out with a series win and that’s the plan next Wednesday. I can’t control anything else but my own game and just try to put a good performance in myself and hopefully it does the team well.”
He made 102 tackles across the opening two matches of the series and is awaiting another gruelling encounter in the decider.
“It was obviously the toughest game I have ever played – (both of) the first two – and I’m expecting Game Three to be the same so yeah I have got to prepare mentally for that,” Peats said.
“There is a really good vibe in camp already, everyone seems switched on and focused and that’s how we have got to play next Wednesday.”
All 18 Blues squad members wore RLPA caps yesterday in support of the Rugby League Players Association’s ongoing battle with the NRL over player payments for the next Collective Bargaining Agreement.