Taylor ready to wear
He’s the man who should take ownership of Warriors veteran Micheal Luck’s No 13 jumper when the Queenslander leaves the club at the end of the year. But, as Ben Stanley finds out, Elijah Taylor’s feet remain firmly on the ground.
WHAT is in a number? On a rugby league paddock, plenty.
Number one: the fullback, the last line of defence, and counterattacking king. Number seven: the halfback, the playmaker and spark who ignites a side’s backline moves.
Numbers eight and 10: the burly props, the uncompromising hard menwho make the metres and gaspinducing hits.
Number 13: the lock. The hardworking defender, tireless, selfless. Barking orders and encouragement for his forward pack when there’s little left in the tank.
Since 2006, that particular Warriors jumper has been filled by one man – Micheal Luck, the pride of Gatton; one of the toughest North Queenslanders you’ll hope to meet. A true pro.
Yet in five months, Luck’s era as lock at Mt Smart Stadium will be over, and another will probably begin. That of Elijah Taylor. Since making his first-grade debut for the Warriors in round four against the Sharks last year, the Hawera-born 21-year-old has been a constant presence in the club’s first-grade squad, missing only four games since last April.
Luck’s pre-season wrist surgery has meant Taylor has starting all 11 first-grade games for the club heading into today’s clash with the Storm, with eight at lock, and the last three in the second row.
He’s been more than filling Luck’s boots this year.
His 443 tackles this season are the fifth most in the NRL, a figure that puts him ahead of the likes of Cameron Smith, Michael Ennis and Dallas Johnson in tackles made.
‘‘It’s part of my job and it’s part of the job Brian’s given to me,’’ Taylor told Sunday News, when told of the count.
‘‘It’s what my team-mates expect of me.
‘‘As long as I keep doing my job, keep being consistent, keep working hard for them, hopefully I can stay in the team.’’
‘‘I’ve noticed that in the games that I do make a lot of tackles – we lose those games. I can’t say it’s a really good stat. I never knew about that – it’s a bit of a surprise. Are you sure?’’ Don’t let it go to your head, mate. ‘‘No way. I’m fully on the ground.’’
Everything about the ever-polite Muriwhenua man indicates he is. His work ethic at training was as evident at the Warriors Tuesday session at Mt Albert Grammar School as it always is before a match. Touted as a rising prospect from early in his career at the Warriors, Taylor was named the club’s 2008 Toyota Cup player of the year.
A bad knee injury in 2010 put chances of his first-grade debut in ice but since pulling on the Warriors jumper last year, he has fulfilled the promise he has always shown: that of a quickfooted tackle machine, with an excellent read of the game.
‘‘Elijah’s come on in leaps and bounds,’’ coach Brian McClennan said.
‘‘He did last year and he’s progressing along nicely this year.’’
‘‘He’s really developing his communication skills on the field. He’s learning to help solve problems on the run and help set a rhythm that’s needed in your defence.’’
‘‘He’d be the first to tell you, he’s learnt a lot off Lucky. He’s our guy to carry that on.’’
Taylor, however, sees room for improvement. Though the tackling numbers are impressive, he wants to have more of an impact going forward.
‘‘I’m feeling fairly rusty,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m not doing much in attack. I need to do way more on attack. I need to take some more hit-ups for the boys and relieve some stress off our props. We all know how good they are when they’re fresh. I’ve got to put my hand up more on attack.
Taylor’s new position, as a second rower, should allow more chances for his attacking muscles to be stretched, while he can assist the Warriors left edge, which has been shaky so far this season.
With Luck heading back to Gatton at the end of the year, the move to second row won’t be permanent. And while McClennan has already pointed towards Taylor as the man to carry on Luck’s legacy, the young player remains humble.
‘‘I haven’t thought about next season too much but obviously Micheal is leaving and the 13 jersey is up for grabs,’’ he said.
‘‘At the moment, that’s all it is, it’s up for grabs. It’s not 2013 yet. I know a lot of boys will be slaving