Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has paid tribute to Nathan Peats for helping bring out the State of Origin best in Mitchell Pearce.
Robinson said Peats' influence on the result in the Blues' 28-4 Origin I win over Queensland was telling.
Playing his first game for NSW, the Gold Coast No.9 provided a precise and slick dummy-half service that got the Blues' potent attack moving.
"Between Nathan Peats playing at hooker the way he did, and the way Mitchell and (five-eighth) Jimmy (Maloney) were allowed to run the play and play a really flat, aggressive style of running was good," he said.
"When two halves score tries, it means that they're over the advantage line and they're playing some really good footy. I thought it was good, very impressive."
Pearce will be missing from the Roosters' NRL clash against Brisbane on Saturday after getting knocked out in the second half of the Blues' victory over the Maroons.
Pearce was ruled out on Friday morning but the rest of the Roosters' Origin representatives Boyd Cordner, Aidan Guerra, Blake Ferguson and Dylan Napa are expected to play.
"The doctor assessed (Pearce) last night and he won't be playing. He'll have to go through the concussion protocol but the symptoms are there," Robinson said.
"I'd say there'd be 34 sore players after that (Origin) game. We've got to see how they run today and most of them should get across the line for tomorrow."
Robinson said he had no issue with the hit from Will Chambers that forced Pearce from the field.
Chambers escaped a ban, getting only a fine, after Storm officials picked up a loophole in the rules regarding the application of grade one high tackles.
"I definitely don't think it was a shoulder charge. It was a high tackle and someone at Melbourne was slightly more intelligent than someone at the NRL to get it down to a fine," Robinson said.
Share
