NRL 2021: Jamal Fogarty secures new deal at Gold Coast Titans, Ash Taylor fighting for his future
Ash Taylor’s future is at the crossroads after the Titans handed halfback Jamal Fogarty a contract extension on the Gold Coast.
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The Titans have shown their faith in Jamal Fogarty by handing the halfback a 12-month extension, leaving $1 million scrumbase partner Ash Taylor fighting for his NRL career at the Gold Coast.
News Corp can reveal Fogarty, who was already contracted until the end of 2022, has agreed to terms on a one-year upgrade, ensuring the Titans co-captain will remain at Parkwood for the 2023 season.
But the retention of Fogarty could have dire repercussions for his five-eighth partner Taylor, who remains off-contract and is in danger of being squeezed out as money runs out under the Titans’ salary cap.
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Just 15 months ago, Fogarty was on a train-and-trial contract but the former Burleigh Bears playmaker has made outstanding progress, becoming the Titans’ first-choice halfback and ascending to the co-captaincy.
Now Titans coach Justin Holbrook is backing Fogarty for the future, handing the 27-year-old an extended term at the Gold Coast scrumbase in the club’s quest to become a premiership force.
Fogarty’s career was at the crossroads two years ago after he struggled to break through during a stint in Sydney at Parramatta but the Indigenous playmaker has made the most of his return to the Titans club with whom he debuted in 2017.
A former social worker, Fogarty has now amassed 35 NRL games for the Titans and is determined to be a pivotal figure in turning the Titans into a consistent finals team.
“It’s been a crazy 12 months for me,” Fogarty told News Corp last month.
“I had an awesome job with youth justice and I was actually content with what I had at Burleigh.
“Then the Titans called me for a meeting and I thought this is definitely my last chance to crack the NRL, so I’m not going to pass it up.
“At the start of last year, I had only done three training sessions and I’d signed a development deal at 26.
“I said to them if you can meet my working wage, I will join the Titans.
“I knew if I could rip in and bump myself into the top 17 somehow, I might be able to finally make it.
“The time away from the NRL gave me perspective.”
While Fogarty is on the rise at the Titans, Taylor could be headed for a painful fall.
The former Broncos playmaker was the club’s next big thing when he signed a $1 million-a-season in 2017, but since signing the mega deal, Taylor has failed to live up to his potential at the Coast.
The Titans have yet to offer Taylor a new deal and with promising playmaker Toby Sexton coming through the ranks, the 26-year-old could be headed for the exits.
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Originally published as NRL 2021: Jamal Fogarty secures new deal at Gold Coast Titans, Ash Taylor fighting for his future
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