TAYLOR’S NEW BLOW
GOLD Coast’s million-dollar man Ash Taylor could find himself on the sidelines yet again after scans revealed the playmaker sustained a minor ACL strain during their breakthrough Panthers win.
The Titans halfback was pulled in the 27th minute after taking a knock to the knee and wasn’t called upon again as AJ Brimson and Tyrone Roberts orchestrated the 30-24 victory on Friday.
It’s another frustrating blow for Taylor, who missed the opening three weeks to a quadriceps injury, but the 24-yearold feared it could’ve been even worse.
“The doctor was telling me all the worse cases (scenarios) at the game like it could be fractured and this and that … so I dodged a bullet with that injury and I’m really thankful that it wasn’t anything more serious than that,” he said.
“(I’m) just going to nurse it this week and hopefully play on the weekend, but if not it’ll be a couple of weeks.”
Taylor carried the injury for a few minutes before reluctantly coming from the field and has already begun his second rehab stint for the season.
He was later cleared by medical staff but Titans coach Garth Brennan chose not to risk his young playmaker.
Brimson is certain to start alongside Roberts against Newcastle if Taylor is ruled out after impressing off the bench. The boom 20-year-old was denied a brilliant try after darting 55 metres and outpacing Penrith
fullback Dallin WateneZelezniak into the corner only to be marched back for obstruction. Roberts, too, enjoyed his best game to date with a try to complement his 397 metres off the boot.
■ Meanwhile prop Jarrod Wallace yesterday accepted the early guilty plea on a shoulder charge and will miss the next two matches.
I DODGED A BULLET WITH THAT INJURY AND I’M REALLY THANKFUL THAT IT WASN’T ANYTHING MORE SERIOUS ASH TAYLOR ON HIS KNEE INJURY