Parramatta Eels fans to show their support for outgoing hooker Nathan Peats
HE was ruthlessly removed from Parramatta but Eels fans are planning to give outgoing hooker Nathan Peats will have one final moment of glory at Pirtek Stadium.
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HE was forced out of the club as a result of the salary cap scandal but former Eels hooker Nathan Peats will have one final moment of glory at Pirtek Stadium.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Eels fans are planning a ‘minute’s applause’ as a thank you to their much-admired hooker.
The moment will come in the ninth minute — the same number Peats wore as a hooker at Parramatta.
Peats left the club this week to ensure Parramatta could become salary cap compliant and play for competition points against the Rabbitohs at a sold-out Pirtek Stadium on Friday night.
Peats joined the Gold Coast Titans.
Eels fan Brendan Smith first flagged the idea of applauding Peats for one minute on social media — and the idea quickly gathered support.
Smith tweeted: “Calling at Eels fans. We all should stand & clap 4 Peatsy @ 9th min mark on Friday #cheerforPeatsy9thmin #BlueandGold #Army #PeatsoverPoints.”
The decision to punt Peats has angered Eels fans, some even preferring to keep the playing roster together and not play for competition points.
Fans though will unite in the ninth minute and applaud the hardworking utility.
@RLWA_worldwide #cheerforPeatsy9thmin calling all parra fans to stand and cheer and say Thank You to Nathan Peats pic.twitter.com/cgFQmruGds
— Brendan Smith (@brendansmith05) May 11, 2016
“Fans have been the silent victims throughout this whole debacle, so this is us showing our support in the most vocal way we can,” Eels member Paul Elliott said.
“At the nine minute mark, we’re calling on all Eels fans to stand as one and cheer for Peatsy. “It’s not just a show of support for Nathan, but will also express the unity among us fans — blue and gold never fold.
“Nathan stood for everything fans expect from their players, and it’s important he leaves the club knowing exactly what he means to us.”
Fellow member Dave Northam agreed.
“The collective feeling among fans is we didn’t want our season ‘saved’ by sacrificing a bloke who had bled blue and gold,” said Eels member Dave Northam.
“You speak to any Eels fan, we would much rather play out 2016 for no points and keep our pride. You’d sell out every game.
“The pride and passion Peats brought to the Eels week in, week out, is exactly what had been missing from the front office this whole time.”
Former Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald also applauded the fans gesture towards Peats.
“I think it’s a very good idea to acknowledge a young player who gave his all in the relatively short time he had at Parramatta, which included playing one game with a broken jaw,” Fitzgerald said. “He and his family have had to suffer through decisions made by the board and management.”
Originally published as Parramatta Eels fans to show their support for outgoing hooker Nathan Peats
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