Titans’ search for Ash
He’s been hailed as a future Origin player but also maligned for poor performances – it’s easy to forget just what a coup the Titans pulled off when signing Ash Taylor.
TITANS coach Neil Henry says the Gold Coast are not in a rush to secure a new playmaker but he would be “mad not to look at” Broncos young gun Ashley Taylor.
Taylor has emerged as the Titans’ prime target after NSW No.7 Trent Hodkinson rejected a two-year offer from the club to sign with Newcastle. Henry also didn’t rule out chasing unwanted Knights halfback Tyrone Roberts, who will be released by Newcastle following the acquisition of Hodkinson.
Roberts was reportedly on the Coast but Henry said he had not been in contact with him or his management.
The Titans are running out of options to partner emerging halfback Kane Elgey next season.
Manly star Daly CherryEvans reneged on the fouryear contract he signed with the club and the Titans were not prepared to match the money Newcastle offered Hodkinson.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett will release Taylor from his contract at the end of the season given Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford will be Brisbane’s long-term halves.
Taylor will wear the No.7 for Queensland in the under-20s State of Origin curtain-raiser at Suncorp Stadium
and then begin negotiations with rival clubs.
And Henry confirmed the Titans were interested in the promising Junior Kangaroos playmaker.
“We’ve certainly looked at him,” he said. “Now that the Broncos have said publicly they’ll allow him to look around … he’s the Junior Kangaroos halfback and a Toowoomba kid with family this way.
“He’s a very solid player. By all reports he’s a great kid, hard worker and an NRL player of the future.
“We’d be mad not to look at him. It would be a young halves combination with Kane Elgey and him and we’ve got Daniel Mortimer signed as well but he’s an exciting player we’ll have a look at.”
If Henry is worried about his lack of an experienced shot-caller next season, he isn’t letting on.
“There’s playmakers out there. It’s whether or not we go with a young option,” he said. “We’ll wait and see. We’re in no huge hurry. We don’t need to rush into things at the moment.
“We’ve still got Daniel Mortimer and Kane Elgey signed and Josh Hoffman is playing a good role for us there. We’re not devoid of options.
“The rumour is (Roberts) might be getting squeezed out from Newcastle given they’ve signed Trent.
“He’s contracted for next year. It will be up to his management whether or not he’s going to be made available.’’
“We’ll certainly have a look at him.”
HE’S A VERY SOLID PLAYER. BY ALL REPORTS HE’S A GREAT KID, HARD WORKER AND AN NRL PLAYER OF THE FUTURE.
TITANS COACH NEIL HENRY ON TALK OF CHASING ASH TAYLOR