Mal Meninga says it's time for Dave Taylor to deliver on his talent

MAL Meninga is losing patience with Dave Taylor, challenging the Titans hulk to use his Queensland snubbing as motivation to resurrect his career.

Dave Taylor

MAROONS coach Mal Meninga is losing patience with Dave Taylor, challenging the Titans hulk to use his Queensland snubbing as motivation to resurrect his NRL and Origin career.

Taylor's hopes of reclaiming his Maroons jumper this season fell  yesterday when the 120kg wrecking ball was ruled out of Gold Coast's round 12 clash against the Cowboys at Robina's Skilled Park.

With the Titans having lost Ashley Harrison, Greg Bird and Nate Myles to State of Origin duties, coach John Cartwright gave Taylor every opportunity to prove his fitness before he succumbed to a calf strain.

It is the latest setback for Taylor, who has endured a forgettable maiden season at the Titans marred by a two-week suspension in April for a disciplinary breach.

The 120kg power forward was a member of Queensland's sides during the 2011-12 campaigns and Meninga, sensing Taylor was lacking guidance, took on a key mentoring role.

By virtue of his talent, Taylor should be running on to ANZ Stadium this Wednesday night, but his erratic form and questionable attitude opened the door for former Souths teammate Chris McQueen.

Meninga believes the Titans are doing everything possible to extract the best of Taylor and the Maroons coach says the "Coaltrain'' needs a wake-up call to re-enter Origin calculations.

"It's up to David really whether he gets back,'' Meninga said. "He needs to get himself back in order on and off the field if he wants to play for Queensland. He has a fair job to do.

"The Titans have pulled the right strings as far as his recovery from where he has been, so now it is up to David.''

In nine games for the Titans this season, Taylor has averaged 20.7tackles and 101.2 running metres per game.

Former Maroons back-rower Gary Larson, like Taylor a Central Queensland product, was famed for his ironman performances and he warned the 24-year-old is wasting his talent.

"Dave needs to work harder in getting himself involved in the game more,'' he said. "His workrate without the ball and with the ball should be a lot higher.

"Dave will get found out if he doesn't lift his game. If he wants to play Origin again, he needs to be working harder...it's an arena you will get noticed if you are bludging.''

Last month, Taylor admitted his two-week demotion by the Titans was a reality check.

"You've got to be professional every single second. It was a good learning curve for myself,'' he said. "It (being an NRL player) definitely does get tougher.''