HUNT FOR A NEW JT
Cowboys line up shock successor for Thurston
RAIDERS legend Gary Belcher fears a Dave Taylor brain explosion could cost Canberra tonight when the Coal Train steams back to Suncorp Stadium.
Taylor will return to his old stomping ground for the first time since resurrecting his NRL career under Ricky Stuart at the Raiders this season.
In 2006, 17-year-old Taylor burst on to the NRL scene under Wayne Bennett at the Broncos as one of the game’s most exciting prospects with a 125kg frame and the skills of a halfback.
He has since been the ultimate tease, failing to find the consistency needed to be one of the NRL’s great players.
“We all kind of expect Dave Taylor to have a couple of brain explosions and I really hope it’s not the case against the Broncos,” former Test fullback Belcher said.
“The problem with Dave is he gets too fancy and gets carried away. He can get the ball and chip kick and regather and throw a 20-metre cut out pass for his winger.
“That’s not what Canberra needs. He just needs to bend the line and get a good playthe-ball.
“What frightens me is if Dave gets a few good offloads away, he will think he can get 10 away. He just needs to use his size like (Cowboys lock) Jason Taumalolo does and if he does that, he can be the best player on the field.’’
Taylor, 28, has seduced plenty of coaches throughout his 12-season career with Bennett, Darius Boyd (c) 1 Jack Wighton Corey Oates 2 Nick Cotric James Roberts 3 Jarrod Croker (c) Tautau Moga 4 Joey Leilua Jordan Kahu 5 Jordan Rapana Anthony Milford 6 Blake Austin Ben Hunt 7 Aidan Sezer Korbin Sims 8 Junior Paulo A.McCullough 9 Josh Hodgson Adam Blair 10 Shannon Boyd Sam Thaiday 11 Josh Papalii Matt Gillett 12 Eliott Whitehead Josh McGuire 13 Luke Bateman INTERCHANGE Alex Glenn 14 Adam Clydsdale Tevita Pangai Jnr 15 Iosia Soliola Herman Ese’ese 16 Clay Priest Jai Arrow 17 Dave Taylor Benji Marshall 18 Jordan Turner George Fai 19 Scott Sorensen David Mead 20 Dunamis Lui Jonus Pearson 21 Joe Tapine Ivan Henjak, John Lang, Michael Maguire, John Cartwright, Neil Henry and now Stuart among those to have had a crack at solving the Taylor riddle.
Cartwright brought Taylor to the Gold Coast Titans from South Sydney on a big-money deal in 2013.
“Frustrating is the word you can use when you describe Dave,” Cartwright said.
“Everyone sees the potential in him. He’s got everything you need and more to be a consistent NRL and rep player.
“He’s instinctive, he’s not someone you could give a detailed game plan to.
“He can pass and kick, but those are the types of things you have to make sure he does when it’s on, not because he feels like doing it.’’