NRL 2021: Titans playmaker Ash Taylor may be forced out as new stars rise

There was a time when Ash Taylor was the golden boy at the Titans – but a retention drive of young talent could see the former Bronco pushed out.

Ash Taylor’s career is on the edge at the Titans. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Titans $1 million man Ash Taylor’s future at the club is in jeopardy with the Gold Coast moving to upgrade playmaking trio Jamal Fogarty, Tanah Boyd and Toby Sexton in a multimillion-dollar retention drive.

The Sunday Mail can reveal Taylor is in danger of being squeezed out of the Titans as Gold Coast recruitment chiefs open negotiations with co-captain Fogarty, utility Boyd and boom playmaker Sexton on upgraded deals.

The Titans handed AJ Brimson a five-year upgrade on Thursday and now they are considering a four-year extension for Australian Schoolboys ace Sexton, who is contracted until the end of 2022.

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Ash Taylor.

Toby Sexton.

The Titans are also keen to explore 12-month extensions for the versatile Boyd and first-choice halfback Fogarty, the latter of whom is off-contract next year and has impressed coach Justin Holbrook with his leadership.

The series of playmaking negotiations puts Taylor, off-contract at season’s end, squarely in the firing line.

The former Broncos whizkid was hailed as the playmaker who would steer the Titans to their maiden premiership when he was handed a stunning $1 million contract three years ago.

But the mega contract has been a millstone around the neck of the 26-year-old Taylor, who has battled injuries and form so erratic that he briefly quit rugby league in 2019, requiring counselling to cope with the pressures of NRL.

Holbrook has worked hard to revitalise Taylor, who is currently sidelined with a hip injury.

The talented playmaker showed promising signs of fighting back last season and Holbrook hopes Taylor can recover from his latest injury setback to convince the Titans he is worth a new contract.

“I haven‘t made a call (on Taylor’s future),” Holbrook said.

“We’ve got to try and get Ash fit, out on the field and that will be in his best interests once he’s playing good footy.

“That’s what he needs to do for us then we will look at it.”

Co-captain Jamal Fogarty is set to extend his career at the Titans for a further 12 months.

The 20-year-old Sexton has yet to play NRL, but he is putting pressure on Taylor and the Titans have discussed extending the emerging playmaker until the end of 2026.

Gold Coast’s salary-cap space will also be further eroded if they formalise upgrades for Boyd and Fogarty, who were the Titans’ halves pairing against Canterbury on Saturday, for the 2023 season.

Taylor is facing a pay cut of at least $500,000 to remain at the Gold Coast and Holbrook admits injuries haven’t helped a playmaker who was close to a Queensland Origin debut in 2018.

“It wouldn’t be ideal for him, but he knows if he’s going to benefit he’s got to get himself right,“ Holbrook said.

“Ash is not far off now (from a return to playing), he is not pulling up sore after training which is great.

“The physios are saying he’s not pulling up sore, so it’s about getting a full week or two of training into him and reassessing from there.

“He agrees with what we’re doing. We’ve got to get on with it.”