Titans look set to reunite Tyrone Roberts and Ash Taylor
Returning to the Gold Coast after a one-year stint in the Super League, Tyrone Roberts appears destined to reunite with halfback Ash Taylor as the Titans’ halves pairing in 2019.
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The Gold Coast Titans’ “bromance” has been rekindled.
Indigenous All Stars hero Tyrone Roberts appears destined to reunite with halfback Ash Taylor as the Gold Coast’s halves pairing in 2019.
After returning to the Titans following a one-year stint in the Super League, Roberts will captain the Gold Coast in Saturday night’s trial match against North Queensland on the Sunshine Coast.
He will wear the No. 7 jersey against the Cowboys as Taylor continues his rehabilitation from minor shoulder surgery.
Taylor is pushing to play in Saturday week’s final trial against the Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium, where coach Garth Brennan is hoping to roll out his strongest side.
In 2016, Roberts and Taylor formed a combination which helped the Titans qualify for the NRL finals for the first time since 2010.
They forged a close bond on and off the field, so much so that Taylor was reluctant to play with five-eighth Kane Elgey the following year.
Brennan has a glut of playmaking options this season following the return of Roberts from Warrington, signing of Ryley Jacks from Melbourne, emergence of AJ Brimson last year and recruitment of utility Tyrone Peachey from Penrith.
But Jacks has been battling an elbow injury, Brimson will be ushered back from a shoulder reconstruction as a utility and Peachey will start at centre.
After collecting the Preston Campbell Medal in last week’s All Stars game, Roberts is on track to start the NRL season at five-eighth alongside his good friend Taylor.
Brennan said he wouldn’t make a final decision on his No. 6 until the Gold Coast’s trials campaign had wrapped up.
“It will come down to the Broncos trial and who’s healthy and who’s not,” he said.
“Roberts is training well and there’s Jacks as well, even though his elbow hasn’t helped him.
“AJ is tracking along really well. I don’t think there’s too much doubt about him playing in the Broncos trial.
“If he is fit and healthy he comes into the equation.”
Brimson, 20, was a shining light for the Titans in 15 games last season.
He spent most of his time at five-eighth alongside Taylor before finishing the year at fullback.
Brennan is expected to start the season with retiring veteran Michael Gordon in the No. 1 jersey to allow Brimson time to work back into form after a serious operation.
That opens the door for Roberts to snare the No. 6 jersey he is chasing and gives Brimson an opportunity to develop.
“He is only 20, coming off a shoulder reconstruction and it’s a long season,” Brennan said.
“Imagine bringing AJ on to the field 25 minutes into a game when the forwards are starting to get a bit tired.
“That’s something I’m tinkering with for early in the year. That’s not saying he will be a bench player for the whole season, but you can ease him in and take a bit of heat off him.”
Former Newcastle playmaker Dylan Phythian will start at five-eighth for the Titans in the Cowboys trial as he attempts to earn an NRL contract.
Originally published as Titans look set to reunite Tyrone Roberts and Ash Taylor
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