Search for halfback focused on young gun

THE Gold Coast Titans have made Broncos young gun Ashley Taylor their prime target after their hunt for a marquee halfback took another blow with NSW No.7 Trent Hodkinson committing to Newcastle.

The Canterbury Bulldogs playmaker last night rejected a two-year $800,000 approach from the Titans, agreeing to a three-year deal with Newcastle.

The Titans were hoping to snare Hodkinson after Manly star Daly Cherry-Evans last month backflipped on the four-year contract he signed with the club.

With five-eighth Aidan Sezer to join Canberra next year, the Titans were hoping to land an experienced playmaker to partner rookie Kane Elgey in the halves.

But it is now looking like they will field a youthful pairing in 2016.

The Titans will target Broncos rising star Taylor, who has been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs.

Taylor, who is yet to make his NRL debut, will wear the No.7 for Queensland in the under-20s State of Origin tomorrow night and is regarded as a bright prospect.

But there is a risk of playing two inexperienced playmakers together, especially with the Titans staring at a fifth straight season without finals action.

Contrary to reports, the Titans are not interested in outof-favour Knights halfback Tyrone Roberts, who will likely be moved on now Newcastle has signed Hodkinson.

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett was reluctant to release Taylor but with Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford to form a long-term halves pairing, it was unlikely Taylor would stay at Red Hill beyond 2016.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel Peteru caught the eye of the Titans during a pre-season trial in Toowoomba and now the towering Kiwi has 18 months to prove he is an NRL star in the making.

Peteru has joined the Titans until the end of 2016.