ASH’S TIME WILL COME BRENNAN ON ORIGIN SNUB:
TITANS coach Garth Brennan says Ash Taylor’s nonselection for the Maroons may be a blessing in disguise for the young half.
Queensland have called Daly Cherry-Evans into their squad for Game Three of the State of Origin series, with coach Kevin Walters plumping for the 29-year-old’s experience over a dead rubber debut for Taylor.
Brennan, one of Taylor’s biggest fans, said he felt for his charge but believes his omission from an understrength team ravaged by injuries is in his best interest.
“Daly Cherry-Evans is a very good player and I’m not going to begrudge Daly an opportunity to play Origin,” Brennan said.
“Do I want Ash to play Origin? Yes I do and I do feel for him a little bit.
“But going into an Origin game with no (Dylan) Napa, no (Greg) Inglis, no (Kalyn) Ponga, they’re a little bit understrength and I’d be really concerned about Ash being thrown into that arena against a full strength NSW team and expecting him to go in there and make a difference on debut.
“For Ash’s long-term future, I’m quite happy that he’s not playing next Wednesday.”
Brennan said having experience players like Inglis around him would have been important for Taylor on debut.
“They’re lacking a bit of experience in that Origin team next week and I think for Ash’s development, it’s best that he just looks to next year, keeps working on the Titans and his time will come,” he said.
But commentator and former Titans football manager Scott Sattler said he would have taken the risk given the level of self-belief modern players possess.
“It’s a hard one because sometimes you don’t want to use Origin as a blooding ground,” Sattler said.
“It can be really risky and it can also be really harmful to a player’s confidence.
“I still would have picked Daly Cherry Evans but I probably would have picked him as my No. 14.
“I think he’s a ready-made (utility) – and I would have picked Ash (at halfback) not because he’s there to blood but because I think he’s the best candidate.
“When you look at his statistics of try assists and his kicking game and kick assists, those statistics all point in the direction that this kid can handle the responsibility. I think he’s stubborn and confident enough.
“We’re dealing with a different athlete now.
“In years gone by, you might have thought they were a little bit green and he should get a few more first grade games under his belt.
“But we’ve seen with your Tom Trbojevics and your Latrell Mitchells and your Kalyn Pongas, they’re a different athlete when it comes to confidence now.
“And I think Ash is in that category as well.”
Ryan James is in camp with NSW as 18th man but is expected to be released later this week to play for the Titans before rejoining the Blues ahead of the clash.
“I haven’t spoken to Freddy (NSW coach Brad Fittler) but … I’ll chase it up that I want him back for the back end of the week,” Brennan said.
“We definitely need him back, there’s no doubt about that. We’ve got a few question marks over a few guys out of the weekend game too in (Jack) Stockwell and Will Matthews and they could miss the game.
“And that’s on the back of (Bryce) Cartwright breaking his hand too, so it’s all hands on deck.”