Taylor stars but it’s no one-man show
HIS kicking game has been crucial to Kirwan High’s unbeaten run in the Aaron Payne Cup, but Harley Taylor is adamant it is not courtesy simply of his own boot.
The Bears five-eighth turned in a classy performance in his side’s 24-16 win over St Brendan’s College – their grand final opponents in last year’s campaign.
Taylor’s combination with halfback Ragarive Wavik has been instrumental in guiding the Townsville powerhouse across the park, and his kicking in general play and off the tee has progressed as the competition has.
It was Taylor’s astute kicking that built significant pressure on the Yeppoon-based side in the first half and set up the victory, but he said if it were not for the big boys upfront, and his give and take with Wavik, he would have been unable to play his role so well.
“Probably just quick play the balls from my forwards so I can get it in time and get that good kick down,” Taylor said.
“It’s definitely a team effort there; if I didn’t have my big forwards getting me the quick play the ball I probably wouldn’t be getting all those kicks in.
“Rags is real good, we just work well together, work either side and communicate a lot. If one of us are calling something the other just goes straight with it. It’s good working with him because we just listen to each other.”
Kirwan’s pursuit of another win was hindered early after damaging lock Tyreice Baira-gela was sent from the field. While they held firm for much of the contest to establish a 24-0 lead, a late onslaught by St Brendan’s caused some anxious moments in the latter stages of the match.
However, on the back of the composed efforts of their halves, Todd Wilson’s men kept their unbeaten run intact.
The Bears coach praised the efforts of his six and seven, and said while another late lapse in concentration needed to be addressed, the effort of his side to guts out the win with 12 players on the field was a proud realisation.
“He does a lot of work on (his kicking) Harley – there is a direct correlation between the amount of work they do and the success they have in their kicking game,” Wilson said.
“It is good to see him getting some results from it, and just learning to manage the game and the right types of kicks and when is still ongoing. He is doing a really good job.
“(And ‘Ragsy’) is a competitor – it is good to have him back in there. Him and Harley are both very young and they are learning how to control a game together.”
With a cross-town matchup with Ignatius Park their next challenge, Taylor said their intensity through the middle of the park needed to step up a gear.
“We all know it’s going to be a tough game,” he said.