Taylor reveals his inner struggles off the field
GOLD Coast halfback Ash Taylor has opened up on his time away from the NRL spotlight.
The 24-year-old opted to take a step back following the Titans’ Round 12 match against North Queensland at Cbus Super Stadium on June 2.
Eventually, he returned to the training paddock at the club’s Parkwood headquarters carrying a smile teammates and fans alike were pleased to see. The next step was to return to game play in the lowpressure environment of the Intrust Super Cup with feeder club Tweed.
Throughout, Taylor has not spoken publicly – until now.
“The truth is I was struggling. With everything. It was the toughest period I’ve ever experienced in my life,” Taylor wrote in an exclusive column for Fox Sports.
“There were a few different issues going on in my personal life and it all just hit me at once. It was becoming pretty hard to deal with and I wasn’t in a great headspace.
“I’m normally pretty good at juggling my football with that, but it was all getting a little too much, and I felt like it was beginning to impact my work.
“Ultimately I reached a point where I thought I couldn’t fulfil my role with the Titans while also trying to deal with these other issues.
“The last thing I wanted to do was hold the team back or be a passenger at the club because of something that was going on away from footy.
“That’s why I made the decision to speak to my manager about what was going on, and then we approached the club’s welfare officer and then Mal Meninga.
“Luckily I received the full support of coach Garth Brennan and the rest of the club to take some time away and focus on my wellbeing.
“It was the best thing for me and something I really needed to do.” Taylor is a chance of making his Titans comeback tomorrow against the Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground, having been named in the No.18 jersey.