HAYNE STILL HAS SOME COAST FRIENDS
JARRYD Hayne was a polarising figure to many during his stint with the Titans but rising star Ash Taylor will always be grateful for his support.
The pair meet for the first time on opposite sides of the field on Saturday when the Gold Coast head to ANZ Stadium to take on an Eels side desperate to avoid the wooden spoon.
Hayne was seen as a villain by many last season as his feud with Neil Henry led to the coach’s axing before his own departure.
Taylor, though, has only respect for the former Dally M medallist, who has bounced back to his best after overcoming a gut issue.
“I’m really happy for Haynesy. I was pretty close with him up here on the Coast and still keep in touch with him, he’s a great bloke off the field to me,” he said.
“Once you get to know him, you get the gist of him.
“He’s different but you’ve just got to accept the fact of who he is.
“But on the field, he’s been great, he’s been involved a lot more and I’m really happy seeing the way he’s playing.”
Taylor was playing just his first season as a starting half when Hayne arrived at the Titans following his stint in the NFL and Fiji rugby late in 2016 and seemed to cede to the former Origin and Test player at times. But Taylor never had an issue with Hayne taking charge.