Nathan Peats linked to Parramatta Eels exit to solve salary cap crisis

NATHAN Peats has confirmed he has been approached by the club to leave before Friday in order for the Eels to get under the salary cap. .

Nathan Peats linked to Parramatta Eels exit to solve salary cap crisis. Pic Brett Costello

PARRAMATTA hooker Nathan Peats has confirmed he has been approached by the club to leave before Friday’s NRL match in order for the Eels to get under the salary cap.

Peats has left the situation in the hands of his manager Sam Ayoub but said he is preparing to play for the Eels against South Sydney this week.

“I’ve had a chat with a few people, but it’s out of my control at the moment. My manager’s sorting things out and I’m worried about playing Souths this week,” Peats said on Tuesday.

“I’m not sure what situation I’m in (if I have to go) so I’ll just leave that to my manager.

“It’s not ideal to have your name thrown out there but I’ve enjoyed my time at Parramatta.

“Two years ago I would have been filthy (I’d been brought into it) but not anymore. I’m pretty cruisy at the moment.

“I’m staying positive with everything ... and I’m just going to worry about this week.”

Despite unsuccessful attempts by Eels consultant Ian Schubert to lower the $570,000 breach at the NRL on Monday, as reported by The Daily Telegraph the Eels are likely to need more than Anthony Watmough’s retirement to play for competition points.

READY TO POUNCE: Frontrunner emerges to sign Nathan Peats

Nathan Peats trains this morning as speculation mounts around his future. Picture: Brett Costello

Shaving Watmough’s rumoured salary of $450,000 off the books, together with the recently departed Ryan Morgan to Melbourne, means the Eels will need to offload around $250,000 over the next three days.

Click on the player at the top of the page to watch Nathan Peats interviewed live!

And as reported by Fox Sports the spotlight has now turned to the off-contract Peats, who was reportedly angry at being forced to hand back a sponsored car when the club was fined $525,000 for separate salary cap breaches last year.

Phil Rothfield first reported in The Sunday Telegraph that Nathan Peats was the Eels player under most scrutiny as the club looked to get back under the salary cap.

The Eels will also need to find a suitable partner willing to take on any player they wish to let go, all of which needs to happen by Friday’s clash against South Sydney for them to accrue points.

The Courier-Mail reports that the Gold Coast Titans have emerged as front-runners to sign Nathan Peats.

“At this stage there has been no decisions and no negotiations (with Peats),” Titans CEO Graham Annesley told The Daily Telegraph.

Nathan Peats could be on his way out of the Eels.

“We are still assessing our needs regardless of anyone else’s needs.

“We’ll see what unfolds.”

St George Illawarra have told The Daily Telegraph that they have no interest in signing Peats.

The Dragons have been linked to off-contract Panthers hooker James Segeyaro while they are also juggling the future of current No.9 Mitch Rein.

The Eels have a host of options at hooker, including Kaysa Pritchard, Cameron King, Cody Nelson and veteran Isaac De Gois, the latter of whom filled in admirably for an injured Peats earlier this season.

Only Pritchard, who represented Samoa in their recent Test win over Tonga, is signed beyond this year.

De Gois looms as a likely starter for Parramatta if Peats was to leave.

“It’s a tough sport and I don’t know what’s going to happen - the first I’d heard (about Peats) was today,” De Gois said.

“I’m just here to play footy and win games.”

Nathan Peats with coach Brad Arthur in the foreground during Parramatta training this morning. Picture: Brett Costello

Making the situation more complicated is that players are already halfway through their pay cycle, which begins on November 1, and any roster jettisons will need a promotion of a player on a $45,000 minimum wage.

“The club’s very confident we can get to where we need to be for this weekend,” Schubert told reporters after meeting with the NRL on Monday.

“We have a bit of homework to do, throw some numbers up in the air and see what happens.

“Most certainly the club will be cap compliant. We’ll have a full capacity on Friday night and we’ll be playing for points.”

Nathan Peats during Parramatta training this morning. Picture: Brett Costello

####