‘New’ Titan tipped to help Taylor

LITTLE-KNOWN Jamal Fogarty looms as the key to unleashing Gold Coast’s biggest star, Ash Taylor, coach Justin Holbrook says.

Fogarty (pictured), 26, became the club’s feel-good story this week when the Queensland Cup player was named at halfback for tonight’s clash with the Cowboys, three years after last playing for the club.

But Holbrook reckons Fogarty’s arrival may lead to another heart-warming tale – the revival of mercurial playmaker and regular No.7 Taylor, who has struggled to live up to his marquee status at the Titans.

Holbrook is convinced that asking his highest-paid star to play five-eighth for the first time in his 82-game NRL career will bring out his best thanks to Fogarty’s presence at halfback.

“Having that organising role (at halfback) hasn’t worked for us,” Holbrook said of Taylor. “The most important thing is he (Fogarty) is a natural halfback. He is happy to organise the side. That takes the extra pressure off Ash.

“Ash is a great player and he can just get on with worrying about his job and not have to run the team.”

Fogarty made his NRL debut with the Titans in 2017 but was limited to just two games before going back to Queensland Cup.

His NRL exile ended when he made Holbrook sit up and take notice by inspiring Burleigh’s pre-season win over the Titans after helping the Bears win the 2019 Queensland Cup title and earning the Petero Civoniceva Medal as the best player.

“We are lacking that real general as a natural halfback ... he’s exactly what we need,” Holbrook said.