Gold Coast Titans rookie Ashley Taylor draws his inspiration from rival players

GOLD Coast rookie Ashley Taylor watches every NRL game, looking to see what plays he can take from other players. But especially Johnathan Thurston.

Titans training at Burleigh Bears. Photo of Ashley Taylor. Pic by Richard Gosling

ASHLEY Taylor is hoping he can learn from Johnathan Thurston’s bag of tricks to become a matchwinning force at the Titans.

Like Thurston, Taylor shares indigenous blood and it is one reason why the Junior Kangaroo is watching the Maroons maestro’s every move as he embarks on his NRL journey.

Just turned 21, the rookie playmaker runs out for his seventh elite-level game against the Sharks on Sunday at Cronulla.

It has already been a daunting baptism, but Taylor is so determined to succeed he is forensically studying footage of every rival playmaker to ensure he has a long-term future in the NRL.

A self-confessed football nut, Taylor takes a keen interest in fellow 21-year-old Luke Brooks, who is on the road to stardom at the Tigers. But the former Broncos whizkid is equally enamoured with Thurston and his ability to find time to repeatedly pull off matchwinning plays Taylor one day hopes to deliver.

“I like watching Thurston,” says Taylor, who is confident of overcoming a shoulder complaint to take on the Sharks.

“’JT’ is more of an off-the-cuff player than I am. I’m sure he has some attacking shape for his team but it’s amazing how he calls plays at the last minute and it just seems to work.

“I don’t know what it is or how he does it ... it might be ‘Black Magic’. I don’t have anywhere as much as him. He is just so experienced and I will be forever looking up to him because of what he’s achieved in the NRL.

“It would be good to replicate one of the greats.

“To be honest, I watch every NRL game, it’s in my blood. Every chance I get I’m watching other halves. Luke Brooks is a good young half and he’s just one example.

“Every playmaker out there is trying to make a name for himself and I’m in that boat. I just like watching how guys play and if I can replicate things in my game, I will.”

Taylor has been afforded little time to fire in the NRL. Titans young gun Kane Elgey’s knee reconstruction opened the door for Taylor and last week against the Broncos, he was the Titans’ offensive main man after Tyrone Roberts succumbed to injury.

The Toowoomba product responded against his former club, producing a neat grubber for David Mead’s first-half try, and is relishing the added responsibility.

Taylor is open to learning new skills from all areas of the game.

“I want to slowly release myself,” he said.

“I don’t want to come out all guns blazing and start making silly errors and not come up with the right plays.

“I’d rather listen to the coach’s game plans and give the team the right shape. If that means taking a hit for the team and not taking the risks I would like to take, that’s fair enough. If I see an opportunity, I try and take it within the team’s structures.

“It was tough last week without Tyrone because without him I’m the only kicker out there. At this stage, I’m still a rookie so I am going to make mistakes because it’s my first season.

“My last-play options could have been better, but the boys are letting me be myself and playing to my strengths.”