NRL news: Jesse Arthars takes up Harry Grant’s advice on loan deal to New Zealand Warriors

Jesse Arthars knew the man to call when he was approached about a loan move to the New Zealand Warriors — and his advice helped seal the deal.

Ash Taylor struggled to deal with the big pressure that came with the big contract at the Titans. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Brisbane’s Jesse Arthars has revealed Melbourne Storm hooker Harry Grant helped convince him to take up a one-year loan deal with New Zealand Warriors in 2022.

Grant and then Wests Tigers centre Paul Momirovski made history when the two players swapped clubs on a 12-month loan deal in 2020.

The move helped supercharge Grant’s NRL career and earned him Rookie of the Year honours.

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So when the Warriors came calling, Arthars, who is contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2023, said a phone call to Grant was the first he made.

“Harry and I are good mates through the Thunderbolts, the Storm under-20s,” Arthars said. “I actually called him straight away just to see how the whole situation went for him, which was pretty similar.

Jesse Arthars has joined the Warriors on loan from the Broncos for next season. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“I wanted to pick his brain a little bit and see how it was going into a club and then going back. He was all for it. The ball was in my court when it came to the decision but it was good to get some outside opinions on it.”

Stuck behind the likes of Kotoni Staggs and Herbie Farnworth in the race for a starting centre spot at Brisbane, Arthars said the chance to play regular first grade at the Warriors made the switch an easy decision.

“That was a big factor. Everyone wants to be playing NRL so that was something I was looking at heavily, and we spoke about,” Arthars said.

“I don’t think [the Warriors] have as much competition in the outside backs, not saying it would be easier at all … it’s just giving yourself the best opportunity you can when you get them.

“Obviously being a Kiwi boy as well, the incentive of joining the Warriors is a big thing for me. I was pretty interested.”

Storm hooker Harry Grant had a loan spell at Wests Tigers in 2020. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

While temporary loan deals were reinstated by the NRL in 2020 to help clubs get through the last two Covid-impacted seasons, longer term loan deals like Grant’s, and now Arthars’s, haven’t been as popular.

But Arthars, who has played 29 NRL games since making his debut in 2019, believes there is a place for long-term loan deals in the modern game.

“Definitely, if it’s going to be benefit both parties I don’t see why you wouldn’t do it more often,” Arthars said. “In my case it is really beneficial for myself, the Warriors an the Broncos. It’s win, win.

Taylor relishing fresh start

Former Gold Coast Titans playmaker Ash Taylor has conceded he wasn’t ready for a multimillion-dollar deal, as he fights to resurrect his NRL career at the Warriors.

Taylor signed a lucrative three-year extension with the Titans back 2018.

At the time, it made him the richest rising halfback in the game but Taylor struggled to live up to the reported million dollar per season price tag.

The 26-year old is now on a train and trial deal with the Warriors looking to secure a top 30 spot for season 2022.

Ash Taylor struggled to deal with the big pressure that came with the big contract

“You can always come up with excuses as to why you didn’t want the contract but you know, I thought I was ready for it, obviously I wasn’t … so life goes on,” Taylor said.

“I can’t stay stuck in the mud. I want to keep moving forward in life.

“Obviously it’s a step backwards for where I was, but I’m looking for a new challenge.

“I want to put my best foot forward and hopefully earn a contract here.”

Taylor’s time at the Titans was dotted with off-field issues, injury and an inability to find consistent form on the field.

Taylor admitted the train and trial deal had lowered external expectations but that he hadn’t given up on adding to the 114 games played for the Titans.

“Well, coming off a big contract, it was a weight lifted off my shoulder,” Taylor said.

“The expectation has dropped from the media’s standards but for my standards I want to win games and I want to earn contracts.

“At the end of the day I still feel pressure on myself to earn a contract.

“But I want to work hard for it now and show my gratitude (to the Warriors) and really want to play in the NRL.”

After bursting onto the scene for the Titans in 2016 and earning the Rookie of the Year award, Taylor never reached the dizzying heights expected of him. The pressure was so overwhelming he was forced to take an ‘indefinite break’ in 2019.

Taylor is now battling it out to partner Shaun Johnson at the Warriors. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

But a ‘relaxed’ Taylor is confident of starting a new chapter of his NRL career.

“Nothing really bothered me (at the start). I was young coming through. I was just playing footy for the love of it. That’s what I had been trying to find over my tough periods,” Taylor said. “I’ll keep training hard and get my body into the best shape it can be for when the contract comes.”

After a three-year stint at Cronulla, Shaun Johnson will return to the Warriors line-up in the No.7 jumper next season.

Taylor is one of the options, including Chanel Harris-Tavita, to partner the halfback.

“Shaun has really grown into that number seven role and he enjoys leading the team around and I have taken a step back into the six role,” Taylor said.

“I’m sure we’ll compliment each other, if I get a contract next year, but at the moment it’s about working hard to earn that.”