Dyldam Parramatta Eels hooker Nathan Peats is unfazed about rumours suggesting he may leave the Blue and Gold mid-way through the 2016 season.
Media reports on Tuesday tipped Peats as the latest in a series of players to potentially leave the club to ease salary cap pressure on the Eels.
“Two years ago I would have been filthy,” Peats admitted as he faced a succession of questions about his future at Parramatta.
“But I’ve sort of calmed down the last few years, not much gets to me anymore. I’m pretty cruisy, and probably my family life has changed me that way.”
“There’s been a bit of news today, but that’s life sometimes. I was doing media anyway and today happened to be the day with all this stuff. I had the choice to pull out but I thought I’d come have a chat to you.”
“I don’t know what you think I’ve been told; it’s out of my control at the moment and I let my manager sort things out. I’m not sure whether I have to go later (leave the club), or if I’m going at all.”
“We just worry about playing. My job is to be the number nine for this team, and that’s my main priority for this week.”
The Eels dummy-half had his first training session back in Parramatta on Tuesday, after representing City Origin in their Country-City win in Tamworth on Sunday, and said he was more than ready to return to the fold.
“I’m just happy to be back, to be honest,” Peats said.
“I missed the fellas last week when myself and Gutho (Clint Gutherson) went away to City. It was good to get out of Sydney, but it was probably the worst time to go away at the same time because i knew the boys were struggling [with the news of the NRL’s preliminary findings].”
“Just to be back around everyone, it’s made me feel a lot better. I love this club, I love playing for the Members and the fans. I love this squad, and coming here a couple of years ago was the best thing I’ve ever done.”
For Peats, 2016 marked his return to the field after undergoing surgery for a fractured vertebra, as well as the last year of his current contract with the Parramatta Eels, and the number nine admits that the NRL’s investigation into the Parramatta Eels has put a freeze on negotiations around his future.
“It was a bit hard obviously with the salary cap stuff, the club weren’t in the position to talk about stuff like that, same with Normy (Corey Norman),” Peats said.
“I’ve just been worrying about playing some decent footy and getting back on the field, and getting some 80 minute performances out, and that’s how I still feel. I’ve enjoyed my time at Parramatta so far and I intend to keep enjoying my time, I’m still contracted to the end of the year.”
Peats will face his former club when the Parramatta Eels take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs at 7.50pm on Friday night at Parramatta's Pirtek Stadium. Click through for all the game day details.
