TITANS WIN DASH FOR ASH
Gold Coast’s new million-dollar man Ash Taylor wants to end his career at the club that gave him a shot at stardom
THE Gold Coast Titans have secured a winner on and off the field with Ash Taylor wanting to use his multi-million-dollar deal to provide pathways for young Queensland rugby league players. Taylor, 22, yesterday signed the richest deal in the Gold Coast franchise’s history, spurning the advances of Wayne Bennett and the Brisbane Broncos.
“I’m looking to set up a foundation now, my own foundation just to give back to what everyone’s done for me and give to people that don’t have opportunities like I did,” Taylor said.
ASH Taylor says he could end his career on the Gold Coast as a way to give back to the club that gave him the opportunity to prove himself as an NRL player.
Taylor yesterday signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him in Titans colours until at least 2021.
But he will consider ending his career on the Coast if he remains as content here as he is now.
“I’d almost be a one-team man if I didn’t play that debut game for the Broncos,” Taylor said after making his debut with Brisbane in 2015, playing just one game before linking with the Titans the following season.
“If I’m quite happy after the four years and they’re still looking to sign me, I’m going to stay around.
“It’s a long way away now but when the time comes, I’ll make the right decision.”
Taylor rose through the ranks in Brisbane and was released from his contract by Wayne Bennett with the path to first grade blocked by Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt – the halves duo the club believed would be a long-term solution for Brisbane. Hunt’s move to St George Illawarra from 2018 though had many believing Taylor would head back to Red Hill when his deal with the Titans expired at the end of next season.
But the 22-year-old said the Titans had given him the opportunity to prove he was a first-grade player and he had been keen to repay their faith.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” Taylor said.
“I’m always looking to give back and that’s what I’m going to do and that’s why I re-signed, to give back to the Titans who gave me the opportunity.”
Taylor is under plenty of pressure. Chief executive Graham Annesley mentions him in the same breath as Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk and incoming coach Garth Brennan says he’s the man that can lead the Titans to a premiership.
But Taylor said he was ready for the task.
“Obviously I’m only 22 and those guys are 34,” he said of Cronk and Thurston.
“But they see a big future in me and obviously I’m going to repay them with everything I’ve got.”
Brennan has mentored Taylor for the past 18 months and believes he can eventually lead the Titans to a title.
“He’s shown in the last two years that he’s ready to take on that role, take control of the team,” Brennan said.
“He’s obviously going to have a lot of assistance around him, there’s some players in that team with a lot of experience.
“But at the end of the day, a halfback needs to own the football team, he needs to take control of it.
“We’re going to work together, with other key players and myself, as far as how we play, but a halfback is a crucial part of your football.”