He’s been on the Gold Coast for barely a week, but mid-season recruit Nathan Peats believes the Titans are well and truly in contention for a spot in the NRL finals.

Nine days after being sensationally squeezed out of Parramatta due to the club’s salary cap breach, Peats made a try-scoring club debut in Gold Coast’s 28-24 upset of Penrith on Sunday.

The win lifts the pre-season wooden spoon favourites to 10th spot, equal on points with eighth-placed Penrith, and the former Eels rake reckons a finals spot is within reach.

“Definitely. It’s only round 11 so any team can make it. You can’t sit there and not have the finals as you’re main goal,” Peats said after the game.

Starting off the bench, Peats came on at lock for a concussed Ashley Taylor midway through the first half, before shifting to hooker in the second, where he scored a crucial try in the 64th minute.

“I was pretty nervous actually. I haven’t come off the bench in a couple of years,” said Peats.

“It probably made it worse for me, I had a bit of jelly legs when I got out there.”

A relieved Peats, who had two training sessions with Titans’ feeder side Tweed Heads before officially joining his new teammates last week, was simply glad to put the toughest week of his career behind him.

With the Titans enjoying the bye next week, the NSW City Origin representative plans to pack up the last of his belongings in Sydney before going back up to Gold Coast on Tuesday.

He ruled out a final visit to his former Eels teammates, who take on Melbourne at home on Monday.

“I’ve moved on man. There’s no point dwelling on it,” he said.

“A few people let me down there, not just the people at the board, but it’s time to move on.

“I’m a grown man and I can get over things like that.

“I’m happy at the Titans and good luck to Parra this year.”