Ahley Taylor’s new Titans deal makes him one of the richest players in the NRL

ASHLEY Taylor’s rich new deal with the Gold Coast Titans makes him one of the highest paid players in the code.

### ON HOLD — CONTACT GCB DESK FOR USE ### Ash Taylor has re-signed with the Gold Coast Titans. Picture: Jerad Williams

MOVE over Jarryd Hayne — Ash Taylor is the new king of the Gold Coast and the Titans hope he can become their version of Johnathan Thurston.

Taylor has become the richest young player in the NRL by signing a $3 million deal to remain at the Gold Coast until at least 2021.

STAYING: Taylor signs monster deal

LEGACY: Titans star never considered leaving

The three-year extension of his present contract will see Taylor develop into the Gold Coast’s marquee player and has cast doubt over Hayne’s future at the club given it would be difficult for the Titans to squeeze two $1 million-a-season players into their salary cap from 2019.

Taylor, 22, is still in the infancy of his NRL career having played just 47 games, however the Titans are predicting he will become one of the game’s superstar franchise players like Thurston at the Cowboys.

(C)Ash Taylor walking into Titans HQ today... pic.twitter.com/NEeJlfChZG

— Chris Chard (@Vic_Arious) October 25, 2017

“Halfbacks are just so important to a team and to have a quality halfback is critical to the success prospects of any team,” Titans CEO Graham Annesley said.

“The career that he’s launched is still all in front of him and I think he can go on to be one of the most outstanding players in the game consistently over the next seven, eight, nine years. He’s young enough to do that.

“You look at what Cooper Cronk’s done and players of that ilk, Johnathan Thurston, how long they have been in the game and how durable they have been, how important they have been to their teams winning premierships.

“To have a player at Ash’s age committed to this club for the next four years and hopefully longer than that, is really fantastic news.”

The Titans opened discussions with Taylor more than two months ago and negotiations escalated in the lead-up to the November 1 free agency deadline.

Hayne and Taylor are the Titans two highest paid players.

A deal was finalised on Tuesday night and Taylor signed on the dotted line during yesterday’s press conference.

Taylor said the arrival of new coach Garth Brennan — Taylor’s mentor of the past 18 months — as Neil Henry’s successor was a key factor in him committing to the Titans.

“Garth being coach was a big part of me making my decision,” Taylor said.

“I’m really excited about what he can bring to the team. He has been successful himself over the past few years. I’m looking forward to working with him.

“Obviously having a relationship already with Garth and knowing him already, it makes it a lot easier to get along with him. I just think that he’ll be good for our club and he’ll take the club forward.

“I’ve been in the system now for two years. Hopefully I can be a real leader in the team and guide us to some success.

“Hopefully we can finish in the top eight (next year) and the ultimate goal is to win a premiership.”

While Taylor will wear the No. 7 jersey for the next four years, Brennan must now decide who partners him at the Gold Coast’s scrumbase.

Hayne could shift from fullback to five-eighth while Kane Elgey will be looking to bounce back from a horrendous 2017 season.

Can Kane Elgey secure a place in the halves?

“I want the ball in Jarryd’s hands as much as possible, whether that’s fullback or six or another position in the team, that’s something I’ll work out with Jarryd and what’s best for the team,” Brennan said.

“Kane Elgey is a local product of the Gold Coast Titans and I’m excited by him. He had a fantastic year (2015) before he did his knee and I think he’ll complement Ash very well.

“Ash is still only 22, he’s got a lot of football left in him, he’s got a lot of learning to do, there’s no doubt about that.

“Ash knows that the spotlight is going to be on him now with that contract that he has signed long-term but I’m sure he’ll embrace it.

“I’m sure he’s the sort of person that will handle that and I’m excited by having him at my halfback position alongside some of the other guys that we have in our football team.”

The Titans begin pre-season training on November 6 after missing the finals and finishing second-last in 2017.