KEEP ASH ON COAST
TITANS BOSS UP FOR FIGHT:
TITANS boss Graham Annesley has reiterated the importance of Ashley Taylor to the Gold Coast’s future as he attempts to douse the blaze ignited by Wayne Bennett’s acknowledgment that the Broncos are tracking the playmaking prospect.
The Brisbane coach may only have been responding to a question earlier this week but confirmation his club would be interested in an offcontract Taylor have sparked plenty of interest ahead of tomorrow’s Queensland derby.
Taylor is tied to the Titans until the end of 2018 and the club – eager to ensure he doesn’t enter the open market – is already in talks with the 22-year-old.
“Ash is a very, very important part of our club going forward, he’s aware of that,” Titans boss Annesley said.
“We are talking to him and his management at this stage.
“Of course, any player is entitled to see what other interest there is for their services but we’ll be doing everything we can to try and keep Ash on the Gold Coast.
“We see the future as building a team around him and we’ll be doing everything we can to keep him.”
Quizzed about the timing of Bennett’s comments, both Annesley and Broncos boss Paul White said Bennett was just responding to a question.
But there’s no doubt the mastercoach understands the nerve hit at the Titans by admitting interest in a player they are desperate to retain.
“Who would I be to tell Wayne when he should and shouldn’t speak about things,” Annesley joked.
“I think that Wayne was responding to a question.
“The Broncos let Ash go because of their roster and we picked him up and he’s gone from being a rookie to an established member of our team and ... (potentially) a great players in the game.
“He’s only early in his career ... but he shows all the hallmarks of being around a long time and we’d like to see him on the Gold Coast for the rest of his career.”
White said it was never an easy decision to let players walk but it had been the best thing for Taylor at the time.
“It doesn’t always work out perfect but we were able to come up with a good solution that suited Ash, his family and it was a decision our club could live with,” he said.