Rabbitohs favourites to poach under-20’s star Brian Kelly from Titans

THE Titans are about to lose one of the best young outside backs- the Rabbitohs are close to poaching under-20’s star Brian Kelly.

Titans young gun Brian Kelly has come back to earth after his 4 try performance in the u20 state of Origin. Photo: Kit Wise

THE Titans have secured one of the game’s best young halves in Ash Taylor but are about to lose one of the best young outside backs.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are close to poaching Gold Coast under-20’s star Brian Kelly who has been earmarked as a future New South Wales Blues player.

Kelly hasn’t signed yet but the Rabbitohs are favoured to snatch him from the clutches of the Titans who viewed him as starter in their 2016 team.

The Titans have signed Ashley Taylor from the Broncos — Photo Steve Pohlner

The Titans can’t compete with South Sydney’s offer as their salary cap and stack of backs on large money continues to harm their rebuilding efforts.

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The Titans already have outside backs on large contracts that are burdening their salary cap and it makes it difficult to upgrade a talent like Kelly who at this stage is only potential.

Taylor has been granted a release from Brisbane because the club believes he is ready to start for an NRL team and it would harm the 20-year-old’s career if they stockpiled him.

He has not put pen to paper with the Titans yet but his other suitor Manly have pulled out of the race.

He will combine with Kane Elgey in the halves next year, a partnership with a combined 42-years of life experience.

Kelly helped New South Wales inflict defeat on Queensland’s under-20’s team in the curtain raiser to the Origin decider earlier this month.

The Blues won 32-16 at Suncorp Stadium as Kelly starred in front of a plethora of NRL scouts who began immediately checking their salary cap position.

The Ballina-raised back and is a cousin of former Titan Albert and current Titan James Roberts.

Kelly is one of several Titans juniors with legitimate star potential.

The club has the best crop of youngsters at its disposal since their introduction to the competition when they had the likes of Chris Sandow, Kevin Gordon and David Mead running around.

They still have two Australian schoolboys in their ranks with David Fauid and Tyronne Roberts-Davis.

The Titans are also close to signing Super League standout Zeb Taia.