Peats deal has Titans hookers on notice

The futures of all four of Gold Coast’s other hookers remain up in the air after the Titans secured Nathan Peats immediately from salary cap-challenged Parramatta.

Kierran Moseley looks set to step aside in the Titans 17 for Peats if the NSW City representative rake is cleared to play against Sydney Roosters on the Gold Coast on Monday night.

Titans CEO Graham Annesley said some details on Wednesday’s deal were yet to be finalised before Peats could play but left the final word with coach Neil Henry.

“That’s entirely Neil Henry’s call,” Annesley told Sky Sports Radio on Thursday.

Peats’ 18-month deal with Gold Coast brings Parramatta a step closer to being salary-cap compliant ahead of Friday night’s NRL match against South Sydney.

However, it does not bode well for the Titans’ four other rakes who are all coming off contract.

Matt Srama appears on the outer after breaking down with a season-ending knee injury in March.

Daniel Mortimer (hamstring) is also sidelined and may battle to reclaim his bench utility role with Peats at the club.

Moseley appears the most likely to be kept as back-up for Peats, considered a future NSW Origin star.

Starting hooker and co-captain Nathan Friend, 35, only signed a one-year deal for 2016 after being talked out of a move to England following a four-year Warriors stint.

Titans forward Ryan James said on Thursday the players hoped Peats’ arrival would help turn their season around.

The 13th-placed Gold Coast are on a five-game losing run.

“It’s great for the club, hopefully it means some more wins,” he said.

“We’ve only got two (fit) hookers at the moment so it is probably good timing.

“He is one of those players who plays tough every week.”

Annesley said the deal “could have gone either way” before an agreement was reached.

“We’re the beneficiaries of it in terms of a new player, so we’ll just see how it plays out over the next few weeks and the remainder of the year,” he said.

While Peats’ father said his son was “filthy” about being offloaded by the Eels, Annesley was confident the 25-year-old would not have switched clubs without wanting to do so.

Titans coach Neil Henry is expected to comment on Peats’ arrival later on Thursday.

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