Cook Islands representative flyer Dominique Peyroux will make his anticipated debut for the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans in Sunday's away clash against the Newcastle Knights at Ausgrid Stadium.
Jetstar Titans Coach John Cartwright today named the 22-year-old on the wing in place of the injured Steve Michaels (concussion) as reward for a string of strong performances for Queensland Cup feeder club Tweed Heads Seagulls this year.
Peyroux, who represented Cook Islands at the 2009 Pacific Cup, was part of the club's National Youth Competition Under-20s team in 2009 alongside the likes of Kevin Gordon and Jordan Rankin, and has since been in the Titans' feeder system with Tweed Heads.
Cartwright said he was pleased to be giving Peyroux the chance to show his skills in first grade after erring on the side of caution to rest Michaels due to some recent head knocks.
"He's done a good job down there at Seagulls,'' said Cartwright of Peyroux, who was 18th man last weekend.
"(Tweed) have been in the zone down there and Dom's been an important part of that. He's a very enthusiastic fellow and he's eaten up everything that's been thrown at him and has improved himself to a level where we think he's ready for a chance.
"Stevie just had one too many knocks in the head so it's time to give him a rest. His health is the most important thing so we'll nurse him back but he'll play before the year is out.''
In other team changes, Rankin returns to the NRL at fullback after spending the past two weeks in the Under-20s including last weekend's upset victory over the highly rated North Queensland Cowboys Under-20s outfit.
"Jordan was there in first grade for a couple of weeks. He's gone back to the Under-20s and has been their best player – they knocked over the competition leaders last weekend and he was outstanding,'' said Cartwright.
The match will mark a special milestone for forward Anthony Laffranchi, who is set to play his 200th NRL game in his final season with the club before he finishes his career in the English Super League with St Helens.
The Titans scored a thrilling 38-36 victory over the Knights the last time the two clubs met in Newcastle and the other two matches at the ground have both been decided by less than five points
