IT’S ON NOW

Benny’s bid for halfback

Bennett’s stance will ring alarm bells for a Titans organisation that faces a major battle to secure Taylor, whose salary is set to soar following his impressive rise.

Broncos legend Darren Lockyer, a member of Brisbane’s recruitment and retention committee, confirmed the former Junior Kangaroos ace was on their hit list.

“If he comes off in 2019, depending on how the Broncos are travelling, if we are in need of a half then he will be one of the options,” Lockyer said.

“We didn’t envisage Ben Hunt was going to leave.

“We’ve done it with a number of players who can’t get the game time. We let them go and a fair few times they’ve come back to us.

“It is a long way out but he has history with the club and is a player who would fit into the system well. He’s got a lot of good attributes as a halfback.”

Titans skipper Ryan James inked a three-year deal earlier this season and hopes Taylor also stays loyal.

“He is an Origin player of the future so it would be good to keep him here on the Gold Coast,” he said.

“Ash is pretty happy at the moment and we know he has the ability to take this club forward. It’s up to the Titans’ management and his manager now to get the deal over over the line.”

THE Titans are fighting to retain Ashley Taylor with Wayne Bennett last night revealing his plan to bring the boom Queensland Origin hopeful back to the Broncos.

In a spicy prelude to the Broncos-Titans derby this Saturday night, Bennett broke his silence on Taylor to confirm his interest in poaching one of the hottest playmakers in the code.

It was Bennett who reluctantly agreed to release Taylor two years ago at a time when the Broncos super-coach was pinning the club’s long-term prosperity on halves Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford.

But with Hunt joining the Dragons next year on a $6 million deal, the Broncos No.7 jumper is up for grabs – and Brisbane’s recruitment and retention committee have their eyes on Taylor.

Speculation is rife that Taylor (pictured), who is off-contract at the end of next season, is considering quitting the Titans and Bennett is ready to strike if the 22-year-old is keen for a return to Red Hill.

“I’d be silly not to try and bring Ash Taylor back,” Bennett said.

“If he interested in us and he is on the open market, I am interested in talking to him.

“Until it all happens, I guess it’s speculation, but I never wanted to lose a player of Ash’s ability. Sometimes guys only get one opportunity at this level and it wouldn’t have been fair to keep Ash Taylor stuck behind Ben and Anthony.

“I wanted him to get an opportunity and it’s worked out great for him. He’s a much more mature player now, which is what the idea was.

“If Ash is interested in coming back, I’ll look at our salary cap position.

“But you always hope if they do come back, they come back a better player.”