ASH EYES ORIGIN JERSEY

Titans half eyes Origin

RUGBY LEAGUE: Gold Coast Titans halfback Ashley Taylor has set his sights on replacing Cooper Cronk in the Queensland No.7 jersey next year.

The Maroons are on the hunt for a new halfback and five-eighth following the representative retirements of Cronk and Johnathan Thurston.

Cronk and Thurston played a total of 59 Origins and formed a dominant combination at Queensland’s scrumbase following Darren Lockyer’s retirement in 2011.

To lose both playmakers in the same year would otherwise be a killer blow to Queensland’s Origin dominance, but the Maroons are blessed with a plethora of talent.

Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster produced one of the great Origin debuts in this year’s decider and Michael Morgan is the incumbent Kangaroos No.6. Throw Ben Hunt, Anthony Milford and Daly Cherry-Evans into the mix and there are plenty of options for coach Kevin Walters to consider.

But the 22-year-old Taylor has declared he wants to be part of the discussions.

The former Maroons under-20s halfback is viewed as a future Queensland Origin player and he is determined to produce the form in 2018 to be considered as Cronk’s successor.

“There are two spots there, or maybe just one with Michael Morgan, so you’ve got to fight for those positions,” Taylor said.

“It’s a massive goal for me. I’m going to work hard, play the best I can and compete for everything I can to work my way into that squad.

“There are some elite players in there and a fair few in the mix for the jersey. I want to make sure my name is getting mentioned.”

Taylor was the only Titans player to feature in all 24 games for the Gold Coast in 2017, a solid achievement in just his second full season in the NRL.

He could not replicate his form of 2016, in which he claimed Dally M rookie of the year honours, but that was not entirely his fault as the Titans slumped to 15th on the ladder.

With 47 NRL appearances next to his name, Taylor is quickly becoming an established first-grade halfback and recently signed a $3 million deal to remain at the Gold Coast until 2021.

There was a chance Taylor could have returned to Brisbane, but he is determined to forge his own legacy at the Titans.

“We’re heading in the right direction here, I want to be part of it,” he said.