Peats leading charge

GOLD Coast hooker Nathan Peats makes his return from injury tonight after an inspirational pre-season spent leading the charge at Parkwood. That’s the Peats way. Nothing could side-track him from his mission to get crucial match fitness under his belt in tonight’s trial against the Warriors on the Sunshine Coast.

Take the club’s beep test last month for example, when the NSW Origin star dominated the field despite his shoulder still being on the mend from surgery.

Titans head of performance Hayden Knowles has observed in awe at the 27-year-old’s efforts day after day.

“Nathan Peats is in here at quarter past six every morning,” Knowles said.

“You only have to look out the window of our office down into the gym and you see him first in every single day. First in, last to leave.

“He has worked around the clock. (The example he has set) has been enormous. He sets the standard.

“He is such a pro and such a competitor but in that area in particular he has really impressed.”

Another to have pleased Knowles during recovery has been Ash Taylor, who too will line up against the Warriors.

“I have really loved working with him,” Knowles said. “He is very, very focused at the moment and it’s awesome.”

The 5pm kick-off will see the Titans roll out a number of big names for their first hit-out of the pre-season but coach Garth Brennan confirmed niggling injuries had forced forwards Kevin Proctor and Jai Arrow to be kept “in cotton wool”.

Coming off a 38-10 drubbing at the hands of the Broncos in Toowoomba last Saturday, Brennan declared the scoreline still won’t matter tonight.

“The effort matters and the structures that we have been working on over the pre-season matters,” he said.

“I’m not overly concerned about the result.”