No-show in playoffs has Taylor dejected

ASH Taylor admits the Titans season will be a failure without finals, as Gold Coast walk footy’s most dreaded tightrope.

Saturday’s loss to Penrith means Neil Henry’s side must win all six of their remaining games and hope other results go their way in order to repeat last season’s top eight surge.

While staying upbeat, halfback general Taylor confessed the year will be judged a failure should the Titans miss finals for a fifth time in six seasons.

“Yeah, from our expectations,” he said when asked if 2017 is a write-off without finals. “We set our target very high with the top eight and we have come away with a lot of injuries but those are excuses.

“It’s easy enough to think about – we just have to win every game from now on.”

A major positive is the evolving game of the No.7.

Aside from a nine-minute absence due to a Round 15 head knock against South Sydney, the 22-year-old has been a constant for the Titans.

That durability, Taylor says, is the result of a more stringent pre-season, admitting he took a lax attitude in 2016 when recovering from finger surgery.

“Last year I couldn’t do much until after Chrissy so I didn’t prepare as well as I could have,” he said. “I’ve adapted this year and my goal was to play every game. I’m on track.”

While locked in to the Titans for 2018, from November 1 Taylor will become a highly sought-after free agent.

“At the moment my heart is here at the Titans and whatever happens after that happens,” he said.