SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 10: Nathan Peats arrives to speak to the media during a Parramatta Eels NRL Media Opportunity at the Eels Training Centre on May 10, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Rugby league's worst kept secret was confirmed last night when Nathan Peats expected move to the Gold Coast was confirmed.

The move, combined with the expected retirement of Anthony Watmough, would all but guarantee that the Eels were under the cap for 2016 and therefore allowed to play for points.

It has also meant that the Eels best number nine, by a considerable margin, and one of the players the club should have built their side around for the next five years, has been gift wrapped and delivered to the Titans.

Sure, the Eels are now supposedly eligible to play for points, but in my view that is not worth sacrificing their star rake.

Peats is by far the best option at the Eels and looks set to become an Origin representative in the not too distant future.

With all due respect to the likes of Isaac de Gois, the loss of Peats will be felt massively for many years to come.

I’m not sure rushing Peats out is worth the chance to play for points against a Bunnies side desperate to get their season back on track. Yes, he if off contract at the end of this season, but as mentioned previously, he is the sort of player you can build a side around.

The Eels have a host of players off contact at the end of 2016, and if they could convince the likes of Peats to agree to a back ended contract, allowing them some wiggle room in years to come, I’m sure they’d be under the cap in 2017.

Moving Peats on screams of desperation by a board who seems more worried about image than the future of the club.

There is a huge chance that the Eels won’t be able to recruit players for next season, and their stocks at nine are hardly bulging at the seams.

Why they couldn’t wait a few weeks enabling themselves to move on players less important to the future of the club is beyond me.

Watmough’s retirement is about to be rubber stamped, meaning if Ryan Morgan’s move to the Storm was made permanent, the Eels would be very close to be able to play for points once again.

Selling Peats damages the squad immensely, especially with Norman’s future in the balance and Foran on personal leave. Throw in a Michael Gordon who is the wrong side of 30, and the Eels spine is suddenly in all sorts.

Unless Peats had given an indication that he would not be re-signing with the club at the end of the season, he'd be one of the last players I'd consider placing on the open market.

At first I thought links of Peats away from the club were pure speculation. I couldn’t believe they’d move on one of their best players, but then again looking at the decisions the club have made over the past few years, nothing should surprise us anymore.

So and so can do the job in Origin

I surely cannot be the only fan sick of hearing players proclaiming they would do the job for NSW in Origin.

Matt Moylan was the latest player to publically state he would be up to the challenge if selected.

Well I’d be up for a session with the Panthers cheer-girls too, doesn’t mean it’s anywhere near likely to happen.

Instead of saying so in a media conference, how about showing it on the field?

Moylan has long been earmarked for Origin, but form wise is a mile behind Cowboys number one Lachlan Coote right now.

I wouldn’t begrudge Moylan a spot, as I am a big fan, but his comments were more a tipping point for me, and judging by social media, plenty of others.

Laurie Daley isn’t going to select players who ‘make themselves available’. Everyone, other than Jamie Lyon, who is eligible wants to play Origin.

Even those who aren’t eligible want to play Origin.

Get out there and demand selection with your performances. Then take to the media when your form is ignored for players who have tried and failed many times prior.

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