Nathan Peats likely to take over as Gold Coast Titans captain

BLUES hooker Nathan Peats has bolted into contention to captain the Titans as Jarryd Hayne told his teammates he will not walk out on the Gold Coast.

Peats feels the burn as the Titans are put through their paces. (AAP Image/David Clark)

BLUES hooker Nathan Peats has bolted into contention to captain the Titans as Jarryd Hayne told his teammates he will not walk out on the Gold Coast.

The Titans were put through a gruelling fitness testing session under new coach Garth Brennan on Thursday.

Peats was the standout performer alongside five-eighth Kane Elgey, setting the pace in testing despite being restricted in his return from a shoulder reconstruction.

The hard-nosed hooker was vocal throughout the session, urging his teammates to lift as Brennan ran his eye over a new-look Titans squad.

The Titans could have a new captain in 2018 with Brennan uncommitted to retaining last season’s skipper Ryan James, appointed by former coach Neil Henry.

Peats and Kevin Proctor, who was stripped of the co-captaincy he shared with James following a drugs scandal, are the main contenders with James to lead the Titans.

FUTURE: Hayne’s promise to Titans teammates

Peats feels the burn as the Titans are put through their paces. (AAP Image/David Clark)

Peats, 27, made his State of Origin debut this year and is well-respected among the playing group for his no-nonsense approach.

James said he hoped to captain the club for a second season but admitted others also had strong credentials.

“It’d be great being a local junior but you have to earn it,” he said.

“You have to put the hard pre-season in and see if you can earn it. I take it as a challenge.

“We’ve got some great leaders like Peatsy, Kevvie, myself and there’s a couple of young ones like Ash Taylor who re-signed for a long time.

“There is leadership potential in all of them. It’s great to be in that bunch.

“Hopefully Peatsy can come back from that shoulder injury. He won all the fitness with one shoulder. He couldn’t even swing his other arm.”