Titans’ Boyd auditioning for starting role with Ash Taylor set to return from hip injury

Fresh from one of the best performances of his NRL career, Tanah Boyd is relishing the chance to test himself against the benchmark halves combination in the league.

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WITH Titans five-eight Ash Taylor set to return from a troublesome hip injury as early as next week, his stand-in Tanah Boyd has circled Sunday’s clash with competition leaders Penrith as the perfect opportunity to cement his place in the six.

Boyd, who came in for Taylor and scored a try in last week’s win over the Tigers, says after 18 NRL caps he now feels at home in the top grade and plans to do all he can to remain in coach Justin Holbrook’s plans moving forward.

“Yeah, I do. I’ve been waiting a while now for this type of opportunity and I’m confident and ready to go,” he said.

“I just have to keep things simple and do my job. I thought I did that last week and I just have to keep backing that up and playing well.”

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 08: Tanah Boyd of the Titans celebrates scoring a try during the round nine NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the Gold Coast Titans at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, on May 08, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

The 20-year-old former Australian Schoolboys representative bagged two Dally M votes for his performance against the Tigers – and the Titans may need a similar showing from Boyd if they are to upset the unbeaten Panthers.

Opposed to the would-be NSW State of Origin halves pairing of Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai, Boyd said the Penrith pair would pose a perfect gauge for his personal performance.

“It would be awesome to go against them and show everyone what I can do,” he said.

“It will be a big test for us. We will have to try and shut them down because they’re (Penrith’s) main keys and if we do a good job on them it will go a long way (to the Titans winning).”

Already heavy outsiders against the competition’s benchmark team, the Titans were hit with a further blow mid-week when star back-rower David Fifita was suspended for two matches for a grade-two careless high tackle on Wests Tigers playmaker Adam Doueih.

With few outside the Titans’ four walls giving them any chance against the Panthers, Boyd said the stage was set for a Gold Coast “ambush” at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

“I think it’s a massive challenge for us. We know … we’re probably the underdogs, which suits us I think,” he said.

“We want to ambush them and I think we’re going to do that.”