Nathan Peats, Jarryd Hayne Origin chances: 5 things we learned from the Gold Coast’s 38-8 win

NATHAN Peats isn’t ready for Origin yet but Jarryd Hayne should be a certainty. Here’s five things we learned from the Titans win over the Knights.

Jarryd Hayne scores his second try during the round 9 NRL game between the Gold Coast Titans and the Newcastle Knights at CBus Super Stadium, Robina. Pics Adam Head

THE Titans record one of the biggest wins in their history in their 38-8 domination of Newcastle.

Here’s five things we learned from the performance.

STAR: Hayne scores a double as Titans smash Knights

1) NSW coach Laurie Daley should pick Jarryd Hayne.

The Hayne Plane has copped plenty of brickbats this season but his centre experiment yesterday underlined he is still a class act.

Marking up against Dane Gagai, Hayne won the battle with a two-try haul that ignited the Titans’ fightback.

It wasn’t a performance of perfection. Hayne made a couple of unforced errors but he would relish an Origin recall.

Hayne scored two tries in a strong all-round performance.

2) Nathan Peats is not ready for State of Origin.

Peats has been mentioned in NSW calculations but it would be a huge gamble for Blues coach Laurie Daley to ask the Titans hooker to match wits with Maroons ace Cameron Smith.

Peats has only just returned from a shoulder injury and was badly exposed defensively when Knights prop Daniel Saifiti trampled him in a 45-metre charge.

3) Ashley Taylor is getting his mojo back.

In his last home game at Robina, Taylor had a nightmare against the Raiders but Taylor was outstanding yesterday.

The Titans halfback set up two crucial second-half tries in nine minutes.

First, he threw a clever ball for Jarryd Hayne before producing the chip kick for Konrad Hurrell’s matchwinner.

Taylor put a brilliant kick in for Konrad Hurrell.

4) The Titans need more from Kevin Proctor.

Granted, the Kiwi Test star has had some injury woes but as the Titans’ big-name recruit, Proctor needs to be a more formidable force in attack.

At his former club, the Storm made Proctor a threat by winning the ruck and if the Titans can dominate in midfield, it will give their co-captain more latitude on the edges.

5) Kane Elgey is beginning to find his rhythm in attack.

By his own admission, Elgey has lacked confidence in the opening months in his return from a knee reconstruction, but the playmaker was sharper against the Knights.

Elgey is not afraid to play direct and it paid dividends yesterday when he dummied through for the second-half try that sparked the Titans’ fightback.

Originally published as Nathan Peats, Jarryd Hayne Origin chances: 5 things we learned from the Gold Coast’s 38-8 win