The father of Parramatta hooker Nathan Peats has launched a scathing attack on the Eels' "gang of five", declaring "It's not acceptable for them to stuff up people's lives up because they can't add up".
Peats is shaping as the man most likely to be squeezed out of the Eels to ensure they are salary cap compliant before Friday's clash with South Sydney. The Gold Coast appears his most likely destination, although the Rabbitohs - who dropped hooker Damien Cook to reserve grade - may make a late play.
Geordi Peats, himself a former first-grade dummy half with Canterbury and South Sydney, unloaded on Eels officials Steve Sharp, Tom Issa, Peter Serrao, John Boulous and Daniel Anderson for failing to fall on their sword after being issued breach notices from the NRL.
"You have five f---wits on the board who can't add up and it bites a player on the arse when it's not his fault," Peats told Fairfax Media. "They reckon they've got nothing to answer for, they are pathetic.
"It's been going for three or four years and they obviously have no calculators at the club. I don't understand how they can sleep at night. They're carrying on like they are the ones who have been victimised and they are the ones who cause all the problems. The players are the ones who get it in the end and they can't do anything about it.
"[Nathan] is shattered, he's filthy. He's not happy, he can't believe it. They go and buy Kieran Foran and built well this year but obviously they didn't have the money to do it.
"They told him yesterday they can't give him a contract for next year because they stuffed up [2017] as well. They don't know what they're doing.
"I don't see how they can keep a straight face and not admit they are wrong. It's all their fault, it's no on else's fault. Unless there isn't a calculator in the club, they can't add up.
"I don't know how they get away with it, how they justify it to themselves, they are totally to blame. He's just the pawn in the big game."
Having been placed in an invidious position through no fault of his own, Nathan Peats was still coming to terms with what the future holds when he fronted the media on Tuesday afternoon.
"It's not ideal to have your name thrown out there but I've enjoyed my time at Parramatta," he said. "Two years ago I would have been filthy, but not any more. I'm pretty cruisy at the moment."
Geordi Peats already lives on the Gold Coast, giving Nathan some family support should he shift to the Titans.
"He's got a baby who is one year old, a missus who has just gone back to work. They are [ruining] people's live and they don't [care]," Geordie Peats said.
"He thought he was at Parramatta for the rest of his career … I know that is what he is feeling. They are a very close-knit group, it won't go down well with the players."
The Eels need to shave $570,000 from their salary cap and are likely to achieve the target if Peats leaves and Anthony Watmough's career-ending insurance payout is ratified.
Asked what advice he gave his son, Geordie said: "He just played for City, he's on the verge of playing State of Origin. If they want to get rid of you, that's their problem
