Jarryd Hayne haunts former club, Ash Taylor must improve: Five things we learned

DEFEAT to Parramatta has plunged the Titans into the wooden spoon battle as Jarryd Hayne and Ash Taylor left them had fans shaking their heads for different reasons.

Ashley Taylor failed to impress. (AAP Image/Darren Pateman)

1. ASH Taylor is one of the most overpaid players in the NRL. The Titans’ $3 million man’s option-taking is erratic and the Eels again exposed him in defence He is miles away from a State of Origin jumper.

REPORT: Hayne returns to torment Titans

Corey Norman piles on the pain. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

2. THE Titans have been plunged into a dreaded wooden-spoon battle in the final month. They are just two wins ahead of the last-placed Eels and have clashes against big guns Penrith and Melbourne in the run home.

3. WHY couldn’t Jarryd Hayne play like this at the Titans? The two-time Dally M winner was classy against his former Titans teammates. The Eels ace brushed off Brenko Lee to score in the 28th minute and just two minutes later, Hayne showed deft hands to put Bevan French over untouched.

4. THE Titans need to overhaul their defensive structures next season. Their communication is poor and they are guilty of too many one-on-one misses. In the lead-up to Bevan French’s crucial 30th-minute try, Kevin Proctor, Taylor and Brenko Lee all produced feeble arm-grabs.

5. ANTHONY Don is an inspiration for the Titans. The veteran winger crossed for a double last night. The 30-year-old now has 65 career tries and needs just three more to break the Titans’ tryscoring record of 67 held by David Mead.

Originally published as Jarryd Hayne haunts former club, Ash Taylor must improve: Five things we learned