Ashley Taylor stars as Gold Coast Titans defeat Penrith Panthers 28-24
IN just his 10th NRL game, Ash Taylor showed he had a State of Origin future. And the Titans have Daly Cherry-Evans to thank.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
DALY Cherry-Evans, the Gold Coast Titans owe you a debt of gratitude.
In just his 10th NRL game, with a black eye and without a halves partner, Ash Taylor showed he had a State of Origin future.
Taylor, a 21-year-old halfback, played one of the individual games of the season as the Titans earned their best win of the year defeating the Panthers in Penrith.
There was a downside of the Titans’ win with Greg Bird’s swearword laden rant at a touch judge potentially leading him to a judiciary charge.
If Cherry-Evans didn’t betray the Titans, Taylor wouldn’t be at the club.
He would probably be at Manly.
If Kane Elgey didn’t tear his ACL in the pre-season Taylor would be playing in the Intrust Super Cup.
Instead Taylor was dominating Penrith’s veteran halves on Sunday afternoon in a breakout performance while being paid a quarter of what the Sea Eagles star is.
Most players Taylor’s age avoid the moment, letting others snatch it.
The Toowoomba junior is built differently to most.
His performance in the final 10 minutes deserves a break down.
The Panthers had shot to a 24-18 lead in the 69th minute with a simple try that appeared to deflate the Titans.
Two sets later and Taylor launched a bomb that was too difficult for Matt Moylan to handle.
Two tackles later and Taylor dummied and ran to score a solo special 15m in from touch.
He then iced the goal to level scores at 24-all.
The Panthers had a set on the Titans’ line but fumbled a ball and Taylor showed great hustle to get to the Steeden first and race 40m up field.
The linebreak had the Panthers shot and Gold Coast worked the overlap for Anthony Don to score the matchwinner.
It was a 10-minute period from Taylor that would make Johnathan Thurston blush.
Penrith’s coach Anthony Griffin knew Taylor could do that to his team.
He believed Taylor was Brisbane’s future halfback and put him in the first-grade squad when the Junior Kangaroos half was just 18.
The final score was 28-24 to the Titans with Josh Hoffman also excellent as he gave the Panthers’ right edge defence nightmares.
“It was a real gutsy win,” coach Neil Henry said.
“We had a lot of commitment.
“There’s a lot of belief in these boys.
“We have been able to be in games and come back in games.
“There’s a good feeling in the club. The boys pride themselves in hanging in.”
Bird fired up after being concussed in a hit as he was passing the ball.
“If I did that I would get four f---ing weeks,” Bird yelled at a touchiest.
The Titans are now in 10th position but equal on 10 competition points with eighth-placed Penrith and have won back-to-back games moving into a bye week.
They began the match horribly though.
A poor decision from Will Zillman gifted the Panthers their first try.
Peter Wallace fired a 40/20 attempt that caught Zillman out of position but the fullback eventually got to the ball as it was crossing the sideline, only to flick it back into Panthers’ winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak who pounced on the loose ball to score.
Originally published as Ashley Taylor stars as Gold Coast Titans defeat Penrith Panthers 28-24
Fears for Dolphins star after leaving field with knee injury
In a terrible blow for the Dolphins, star winger Jack Bostock has left the field in the first half of their clash with the Knights with what could be a serious knee injury.
Depleted Panthers back inside top eight after gutsy NZ win
No State of Origin players? No worries for Penrith. With their biggest stars not making the journey across the ditch, the Panthers pulled off a statement victory against the Warriors to return to the top eight.