The Aquis Gold Coast Titans have added another ‘Nate’ to our front row stocks after 23-year-old prop Nathaniel Peteru, from the NZ Warriors, joined the squad today.
The 112kg Junior Kiwi has been in the Warriors’ full-time squad since 2014 and played under Titans assistant coach Rohan Smith with the Warriors’ NSW Cup side last season.
The Auckland-born prop, called ‘Nate’ like Titans captain and fellow prop Nate Myles, has signed for the remainder of 2015 and 2016 seasons and is excited at the opportunity of pushing for an NRL position.
He played in the 2011 Warriors under-20s premiership side with Agnatius Paasi who path from a train and trial contract to regular NRL appearances has inspired him.
Last year he was showing good form and was on the verge of NRL selection when he tore his ACL and needed a knee reconstruction but returned showing fine form this season in the Warriors’ reserve grade side and has not missed a match.
“I want to take my game to a new level and hope I can do that here,” he said. “Rohan helped me a lot on and off the field in Auckland and it’s good to be reunited with him.”
Smith had also recommended Paasi who has made his mark in his limited time with the Titans and is confident Peteru can also provide good value on the Gold Coast.
“Nate was on the cusp of getting a go in the Warriors’ NRL side and had a couple of 18-man opportunities when he did his knee,” Smith said.
“He is fit and healthy now and has had a good season so far in the NSW Cup and pumped out good minutes and I think he will be very good for us.”
