Peyroux earns call-up for Sea Eagles clash
Adam Gardini | Friday 13 April 2012 10:55 AM
Hard hitting centre Dominique Peyroux has been called into the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans side for tomorrow night's clash against Manly after Beau Champion was today ruled out with a shoulder injury.
Champion was unable to train at the team's final training session at Robina this morning due to a shoulder injury, with medical staff yet to determine the full extent of the injury.
While a blow for Champion, Peyroux earns a spot back in the top grade in the centres - where he had impressed in the earlier rounds.
"It's unforunate for Champ but I got the call-up last night,'' said Peyroux before the team travelled to Sydney today.
"I was eating dinner and had a missed call from Carty so I thought I better call him back.
"I'm just grateful for the opportunity again, hopefully I can play my best footy for the team and try to get that win.''
The Titans could also be boosted by the return of lock Greg Bird from an ankle injury after he completed today's training session.
Assistant Coach Steve Murphy said it was good to see Peyroux back in the first grade side after only losing his spot several weeks ago after the return of Champion from injury.
"We're excited about Dom, I think he's a great player. I'm really excited for him and I think he deserves his spot back in the top grade,'' said Murphy.
"Steve Matai is a strong player and he's been been playing first grade for a long time so he'll probably try and intimidate Dom but Dom won't take a backward step at all so it'll be a really exciting clash that one.''
Murphy said Bird would travel with an 18-man squad to Sydney today, with a final decision to be made about his availability on game day.
"We're travelling with 18 so he'll (Coach John Cartiwrhgt) make his decision tonight or tomorrow morning,'' said Muphy.
"He'd probably come back in the pack I'd say. Young Sezer will get his opportunity at five-eighth and we're excited about him.
"We've been waiting for this chance to give him a start and it's probably come earlier than expected but we're looking forward to his performance this week.
"He's been fantastic during the week, I guess the biggest challenge of course is Saturday night. Aidan is a long-term player at this club, a player that we want him to cement that No.6 position and I'm sure he'll do it.''
Murphy said the club was yet to learn the full extent of Champion's injury.
"It's a shoulder injury but they don't know the extent of it at the moment. I guess we'll know early next week,'' said Murphy.
http://www.titans.com.au/news-displa...es-clash/53217