Gold Coast Titans have tabled a $1.5 million offer for Nathan Peats

GOLD Coast have tabled a $1.5 million offer for Nathan Peats as NSW hooking legend Ben Elias called for the Titans rake to be blooded in State of Origin.

GOLD Coast have tabled a $1.5 million offer for Nathan Peats as NSW hooking legend Ben Elias called for the Titans rake to be blooded in the State of Origin arena.

The Titans are facing a battle to retain Peats with his management revealing a third NRL club, following Parramatta’s approach, had entered the race for his signature.

The Courier-Mail exclusively revealed last month that the Titans were in danger of losing Peats following a pay dispute that threatened his future at the club. But the Titans are determined to win the fight, tabling a revised three-year offer worth an average $500,000 annually to stave off poaching raids from Sydney-based rivals.

The Titans originally tabled a two-year deal, but have offered Peats another 12 months in a show of commitment to a hooker rated a possible bolter for this year’s Origin series.

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A pay dispute has put Peats on the market. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Titans recruitment chief Tony Mestrov is satisfied with the club’s latest offer and is hopeful Peats will ink the new deal, which would keep him at the club until 2020.

“We’re in ongoing discussions and we’re hoping to have it sorted in the next few weeks,” Mestrov said.

“We’re aware of other clubs being interested and that’s understandable, but we’ve made a good offer and we desperately want to keep him here at the club.

“He’s a quality player so it’s only natural he will attract other offers but we’re doing our best to keep him.”

Parramatta boss Bernie Gurr confirmed that the Eels were interested in reclaiming the player they offloaded during the club’s salary-cap crisis last year.

Peats’ agent Sam Ayoub says there is no guarantee the 26-year-old will remain on the Gold Coast as competition for his signature intensifies.

“Nathan has options elsewhere,” Ayoub said. “Parramatta have expressed interest and now we’ve had a strong interest from a third club that wants to progress discussions.”

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While Peats’ future remains uncertain, former Blues hooker Elias believes the time has come for the Titans rake to be handed an Origin debut at the expense of Robbie Farah. Elias is a huge fan of Farah but says the 33-year-old should be overlooked in favour of Peats for Origin I.

“I have a huge wrap on Nathan Peats, he has all the skills to play State of Origin,” Elias said. “He is a good No.9 and wouldn’t look out of place in that NSW Origin side.

“Peats is a great signing for the Titans and it’s important for the club to keep him.

“Robbie would get the shits with me saying this, but we need to look to the future. Robbie has been a terrific player, but he’s 33 and has had a good run. Everyone in sport has a use-by date and it’s time to move on.

“I would love to see Peatsy get a chance. He wouldn’t let NSW down.”

Originally published as Gold Coast Titans have tabled a $1.5 million offer for Nathan Peats