Gold Coast Titans drug scandal: Wests Tigers look set to profit turmoil in season opener

JASON Taylor had good reason to look relaxed and share a laugh with his players at the Wests Tigers season launch on Thursday.

Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor with some of his players. Wests Tigers season launch at Bicentennial Park, Homebush.

JASON Taylor had good reason to look relaxed and share a laugh with his players at the Wests Tigers season launch on Thursday.

After all, his side look all but certain to collect a gift two points in the season opener when they travel to the Gold Coast disaster zone.

The Titans have been rocked by the cocaine scandal, with five players — including representative duo Greg Bird and Dave Taylor — stood down after being slapped with court notices in relation to drug offences.

The Tigers were $2 outsiders with the TAB before betting was suspended on the match.

TIGER CUBS POISED TO RESTORE PRIDE

Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor looks in good spirits ahead of the NRL season.

You’d imagine they’ll start one of the shortest-priced favourites when the market does reopen on the match next Tuesday.

Teams can often rally when faced with adversity, which is often the case when a star player breaks down, or a coach is replaced.

But it looks almost impossible for the Titans to win at home, especially without Taylor and Bird.

Taylor was taking nothing for granted, but still took it upon himself to address his players at training about the Titans situation.

“(The conversation at training) was about us focusing on what we have to do, and ensuring the boys weren’t waking up each day wondering where all the drama was at, because that will take their minds off the job we’ve got ahead of us,’’ Taylor said.

“We can’t, and we won’t be spending any time thinking about where those guys are at. We just have to focus on us.’’

Pressed on the easier task of playing a side without Bird and Taylor, who have racked up 352 NRL games between them, Taylor said: “I won’t even spend one minute thinking about it.

“We just can’t spend a minute thinking about it. We have some trial footage from the Titans. We will have a bit of a look at that and we will expect them to play well.

“They (Taylor and Bird) won’t change the way they play.

Jason Taylor talks to his players at the Wests Tigers season launch.

“Whatever they have been working on in the pre-season with their structures, regardless of who is in or out, they will continue to play that way. Knowing the sort of attack they are going to present to us, that really doesn’t change that much if you take some guys out and put some in.

“They might not do it quite as well because of those guys being out, but it still means we can prepare for them to play well and play the style of footy they have played in their last few games.’’

Kiwi international Marty Taupau quipped on stage at the Tigers’ season launch his highlight from the Kiwis’ Four Nations’ win was running the ball back at Greg Bird from a dropout, and “putting him on his arse’’. It’s a shame Bird won’t be there next Saturday.

The Tigers also announced their strategic plan at their breakfast launch, with a top-four finish, 12 local juniors in the full-time squad, and a 33 per cent increase in game-day attendance by 2017 all key features.

Originally published as Gold Coast Titans drug scandal: Wests Tigers look set to profit turmoil in season opener