ASH TAKES BIG STEP
Manly braced for Broncos backlash Souths getting star pair back
ASH Taylor does not believe one good performance means he has his mojo back, but the Gold Coast playmaker knows he’s on the right path to discovering his career-best form.
The Titans’ million-dollar man helped steer the side to their first victory in 364 days on Sunday night, playing a starring role in their 28-23 win over Wests Tigers.
Taylor, who put on a try each for wingers Anthony Don and Brian Kelly, has been lauded for his composure in leading the Titans in their impressive comeback.
The 25-year-old took time away from the game last year as he dealt with mental health issues and, until Sunday, had struggled to find his feet after his return.
But while he is happy with his progress, Taylor says he has a long way to go to find his mojo.
“It’s just one game,” he said. “You can’t rely on one game to bring back your best ... but it’s a stepping stone.
“It’s something to work off and I’ll keep working hard every week.”
It was not an easy night at the office for the Titans, with the Tigers racing out to a 12-0 lead in just 12 minutes after Taylor threw a pass that was intercepted by Wests winger David Nofoaluma.
Taylor conceded that the Taylor of old would have “put his head down, played the rest of the game but wouldn’t have got involved”, but he was the one who steadied the ship – with the help of his teammates and encouragement of coach Justin Holbrook.
New coach Holbrook has had a strong influence on Taylor, making the decision to move him to five-eighth so he could leave the organising to a new halfback in Jamal Fogarty.
Taylor said the switch, plus Holbrook’s presence, had played a part in his form turnaround.
“Being a half, you’re really hard on yourself to make big plays every play, but now we have Jamal in there who’s doing a great job,” he said.
“He (Holbrook) has helped me massively.
“He plays it simple for me, he keeps a simple game plan. “I think that’s why he switched me to fiveeighth, to keep my role simple, to try to inject myself in the game so that when I do get the ball, I make something of it. I’ve really worked hard with Justin.” Taylor said the key now – not just for his own game but for the Titans’ bid to become a force in this year’s competition – was to find consistency.
Their next assignment is a tough one against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday, but Taylor thinks the team is building on their self-belief.
“It’s been a long time coming, but there’s been a lot of hard work put into getting that one win,” he said.
“If you’re not believing in the team then why compete? Why be in the competition?
“Us as a club, we haven’t been very strong the past few years and we really want to work hard on changing that.”
RABBITOHS captain Adam Reynolds is confident the return of Cody Walker and James Roberts will give South Sydney the impetus they need to turn their season around.
Walker will make an anticipated comeback into the lineup after completing a twogame ban for his street fight last December, and Roberts is all but certain to join him after missing the past two matches as he recovers his fitness following a stint in rehabilitation.
“I’m not sure what (coach) Wayne’s (Bennett) thinking, but both boys will be available for selection and excited to get them both back,” Reynolds said yesterday ahead of Saturday’s
NO time for moping, Manly have moved on quickly from their bitterly disappointing NRL loss to Parramatta as they brace for a Brisbane backlash.
NRL head of football Graham Annesley conceded Manly were dudded by an incorrect forward pass call in the final minute of the Sea Eagles’ 19-16 defeat to Parramatta at Bankwest Stadium.
Winger Reuben Garrick was wrongly denied the matchwinning try, leaving the Eagles needing to beat the besieged Broncos on Thursday night to retain their place in the top eight.
“Obviously with a shortened season, you’ve got to get a few wins in pretty quickly so that’s our main focus,” Manly hooker Dany Levi said.
Instead of being the lastgasp hero, Garrick admitted the loss was still raw but the Eagles could ill-afford to dwell on the touch judge’s blunder.
“We can’t do much about it. It’s a decision made in a split second. We make them as players; they make them as refs,” Garrick said.
“You’ve just got to move on from it and we know we put in a good performance and were unlucky not to come away with the two points.”
Des Hasler’s side won’t be taking Brisbane lightly at Central Coast Stadium, despite the Broncos suffering the club’s worst loss – a 59-0 drubbing by the Sydney Roosters.
Garrick said the Sea Eagles’ own humiliating 36-18 loss last year to wooden spooners Gold Coast was lesson enough.
“We’re expecting a very tough match. I’m sure they’ll be firing after a tough loss. You’ve got to be wary of teams coming off big losses,” he said.
match against Gold Coast. “They’re a big part of our side and (we’re) looking forward to it.”
Their inclusions will be a huge boost for a Rabbitohs side that has dropped three on the trot and are stuck in the bottom half of the ladder.
Walker, the former NSW State of Origin playmaker, will come in at the expense of rookie Troy Dargan.
“It’s been pretty disappointing having him (Walker) on the sidelines for the last two weeks,” Reynolds said.
“Cody Walker ... he’s controlling that left edge there and he’s a vital part of our team.”
Matt Encarnacion