Prince the man to spark Ash: Sattler
TITANS foundation football manager Scott Sattler says Ash Taylor is in danger of not reaching his potential and has called for former Origin star Scott Prince to help mentor the embattled Gold Coast halfback.
Taylor was tipped to lead the Titans to the finals but the Gold Coast are floundering in the bottom four entering Saturday’s possible woodenspoon clash with last-placed Canterbury at Robina.
It has been a frustrating season for Taylor. Just 12 months ago, he was a serious contender for the Queensland No.7 jumper for Origin III, but fast forward one year and the Titans’ $1 million man is not even being discussed as a Plan B contingency for injured Maroons playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans.
Taylor is the first to admit he is not playing to his optimum after suffering a quadriceps injury in pre-season which sidelined him for the opening three rounds.
Sattler played a key role in signing Prince as the Titans’ inaugural halfback in 2007 and cannot believe the former Maroons ace is doing development work for the Broncos when he lives within a Taylor punt kick of Gold Coast training.
“Ash Taylor needs help – he needs a good mentor like Scott Prince,” Sattler said.
“Ash is such a gifted player but he is reaching the point of his career when he can’t rely on promise forever.
“To be honest, he has gone past the age of people waiting for him to fulfil his potential.
“You can build a club around young halves like Ash Taylor and AJ Brimson, but they need a mentor to help them with decision-making and maturity as playmakers.
“Scott Prince would be perfect for them.
“He lives 10 minutes from the Titans’ headquarters, yet he drives an hour each day to help young blokes at the Brisbane Broncos.
“It’s beyond belief.” Taylor turned 24 in March and has played 76 first-grade games since his NRL debut for the Broncos in 2015.
Former Maroons lock Sattler believes it’s time for Taylor to step-up as a consistent matchwinner in the mould of Prince, the 300-game legend who won a premiership at the Wests Tigers in 2005 and steered the Titans to the 2010 preliminary final.
“Ash now has to move to the next level of understanding how a halfback operates and how a halfback can control the rhythm of a game,” Sattler said.
“Unfortunately, Ash struggles with that. You would give him the benefit of the doubt as a 19-year-old but he is now the key man in the side.
“I’m wondering whether he knows how to be the key man and to answer that, he needs a good mentor like Scott Prince.
“Scott is one of the Titans’ greatest players and he is highly knowledgeable. He should be working for the Titans full-time as a halves specialist who also teaches the backrowers running off the halves which lines to run.”
ASH IS SUCH A GIFTED PLAYER BUT HE IS REACHING THE POINT ... WHEN HE CAN’T RELY ON PROMISE FOREVER.