Peats’ NRL fitness scare at Titans

A depleted Gold Coast are sweating on Nathan Peats’ fitness ahead of Monday night’s NRL home clash with Cronulla after his no-show at training.

Peats threatens to become the fifth Titans hooker to be sidelined after missing Thursday’s session due to a hamstring complaint.

Halfback Ash Taylor (groin) was also absent.

“We will be scraping the barrel if we lose Peatsy,” said Titans’ veteran Greg Bird, who will return from suspension against his former club the Sharks.

“We want to make sure he will be out there.

“If that means missing training on Thursday, so be it.”

Gold Coast’s depth will be tested if main injury concern Peats is ruled out.

Nathan Friend (hamstring) won’t be back for a fortnight while Kierran Moseley (appendicitis) is six weeks away from a return.

Daniel Mortimer (hamstring) and Matt Srama (knee) are already out for the season.

Bird believed Ryan Simpkins could step up in Peats’ absence.

But he still expected Peats and Taylor to run out against a Sharks side on a club record 15-game winning streak.

“He (Simpkins) can play any number of positions,” Bird said.

“He’s quite skilful so I’d say he’ll probably be that bench utility role but it is still quite early.

“I think the guys (Peats, Taylor) will be right, come captain’s run on Sunday.”

The seventh-placed Titans are on track to play finals footy for the first time since 2010.

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