PLUS TAYLOR’S RETURN

Titans fans welcome absent star’s return to form

ASH Taylor has made an immediate impact in his return to footy, helping Tweed snap a five-game Intrust Super Cup losing streak.

The Seagulls headed out to Ilfracombe to face the Central Queensland Capras on Saturday night as part of Country Round and emerged 28-12 winners.

The last-placed Capras scored the first two tries of the game, somewhat against the run of play, before Taylor got Tweed on the board, crossing with a show-and-go effort.

That alone should be music to Titans fans’ ears, given the talented halfback’s perceived unwillingness to take on the defensive line before his selfimposed break from the game.

The Seagulls scored four tries in 19 minutes after halftime, including a double to Ioane Seiuli, to put the Capras away.

Hooker Mitch Rein was a late withdrawal due to illness, meaning Tweed took just 16 players into the game, elevating Brent Woolf – the son of coach Ben Woolf – into the starting side for his club debut.

Taylor’s presence was a buzz to teammates including 21-year-old five-eighth Luke Jurd.

“He played with good control and was a bit of a calming voice out there,” Jurd said.

“It’s always really good to play with players like that and it’s also good as a young half coming through to have someone like that there.

“Everyone took him in and he got around the boys really well too so it was really nice to have him here.”

Jurd said the trip northwest had been a morale booster and provided a much-needed win, opening up a two-game buffer to eighth and ninth-placed teams Redcliffe and Ipswich.

“Just to get that feeling of winning again, it’s contagious in a team so as soon as we get that going I think the results will come,” he said.

Townsville defeated Burleigh 22-10 in Ingham yesterday afternoon.