Nathan Peats backs Gold Coast Titans coach Neil Henry while slamming halves speculation

TITAN hooker Nathan Peats slams suggestion players are backing Jarryd Hayne over Neil Henry and has fronted club management to air his concerns.

GOLD COAST hooker Nathan Peats says he loves embattled coach Neil Henry, and has told Titans bosses that sacking him now would be extremely unfair.

Despite claims Henry has lost the dressing room following an ugly fallout with Jarryd Hayne, Peats insists the coach retains overwhelming support from senior players.

The outspoken hooker also rubbished suggestions young halves Ash Taylor and Kane Elgey were set to walk out on the franchise unless Henry was sacked.

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Parramatta centre Michael Jennings is up-ended by Titans hooker Nathan Peats at ANZ Stadium. Picture: AAP

Earlier this week, the NSW Origin hooker responded to an article warning about the walkout by tweeting: What a load of shit.

And after playing Parramatta in Thursday Night Football, the Blues No. 9 went again.

“Don’t believe everything you read,’’ Peats fired. “Media want to put the first story out, not the truth.

“Ash is a good young kid. And Elgey is probably one of the quietest kids I’ve ever met.

“So for them to come out and say they’re not going to sign unless the coach (leaves), it’s rubbish.

“I probably should keep my mouth shut on twitter sometimes, but I don’t bullshit.

“I am who I am and people either like it or hate it.

“Like I said, sometimes I should keep my mouth shut but I’m sick of it. I feel for the coach.”

Titans rake Nathan Peats takes on the Eels on Thursday night. Picture: Phil Hillyard

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Despite suggestions the players were backing Hayne over Henry, Peats stressed he and other senior players wanted the coach retained.

Quizzed on whispers he led a group which fronted CEO Graham Annesley and said as much, the tattooed rake replied: “Everyone has reinforced their support for Neil. It’s not his fault we’re playing the way we are.”

So sacking him would be unfair?

Coach Neil Henry and Nathan Peats during Gold Coast Titans training at Cbus Stadium. Picture: AAP

“It would mate, definitely,’’ Peats continued.

“We all respect Neil as a coach. Our leadership group love him. The squad loves him.

“There might be two or three blokes who aren’t happy with their contract situations, or where they’re going next year. But that happens in every squad.

“I guarantee if you sit down with the playing groups of all 16 clubs and ask if they like their coach, there will be one or two guys who don’t. But that’s footy.

“Neil’s not on the field missing tackles and giving away fifth-tackle penalties. He’s up in the box giving us our game plan.

Steam rises from Nathan Peats and Jarryd Hayne last month at Campbelltown Stadium. Picture: Mark Evans

“We’re not executing ... and he’s not to blame for that.”

So as for stories this week suggesting that’s exactly what Titans players are doing?

“That’s why I don’t believe everything I read,’’ he added.

Peats was more coy, however, when discussing the relationship between Henry and Hayne, the $1.2 million fullback who is no longer on speaking terms with the man setting the game plans.

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“I’m not going to go into it too much,’’ he said. “It’s between them and the club.

“The boys get along really well up there and we know what we’re capable of as a squad — we beat the Sharks twice, we beat the Storm, we beat Parramatta before.

“We just haven’t had the cattle on the field all year. Four or five weeks ago we were a deadset chance for the eight. To dish up what we have the last few weeks is disappointing.”

Originally published as Nathan Peats backs Gold Coast Titans coach Neil Henry while slamming halves speculation