CONNOR O’BRIEN LOOKS AT FIVE ’IF ONLY’ SPORTING TALENTS WITH LINKS TO THE GOLD COAST

DAVE TAYLOR

When Taylor burst onto the scene at the Broncos, it didn’t take long for fans to get excited. While he notched 181 NRL games plus Origin and Australia appearances, he has rarely reached the level many expected. What’s more is he arrived at the Gold Coast Titans in 2013 with a heap of hype – but it was just about all downhill from there.

JARRYD HAYNE

Without question, Hayne (left) has reached many spectacular heights during his career. However, Hayne’s much-hyped to return to rugby league via the Gold Coast Titans in late 2016 proved to be an almighty flop. Hayne departed the club after little more than a year – but not before playing a key role in the axing of coach Neil Henry.

JAMES O’CONNOR

Born on the Gold Coast, O’Connor (above) was once upon a time Australian rugby’s golden child. But when nothing seemed it could wrong, the wheels gradually fell off O’Connor’s career with a number of off-field indiscretions along the way not helping his cause. Less than a month out from his 28th birthday, he is now playing for English club Sale and has not pulled on a Wallabies jumper in years.

HARLEY BENNELL

A supremely talented footballer, Bennell (right) is still only 25 but has yet to hit the heights he often threatened to. Bennell’s five-year tenure at the Suns was plagued by disciplinary issues. In his final year at the Carrara club in 2015, he broke a drinking ban, then became embroiled in a drug scandal, then and was duly traded to Fremantle.

BERNARD TOMIC

Another prodigious talent whose career sadly has become better known for his actions off the court. Even as a young gun, the Gold Coaster – and often his controversial father, John – made headlines, like a 2009 incident in which Tomic’s agent supposedly rejected a session with Lleyton Hewitt because “Lleyton’s not good enough”.