Gold Coast Titans halfback Ash Taylor challenged to stand up in the absence of Tyrone Roberts

After an underwhelming start to 2019, crunch time has arrived for Ash Taylor to keep Gold Coast’s NRL season alive.

AFTER an underwhelming start to 2019, crunch time has arrived for Ash Taylor to keep Gold Coast’s NRL season alive.

The million-dollar Titans marquee has struggled the past 18 months to rediscover the sensational form that had filled fans with excitement through his first two seasons at the club.

Taylor has played second fiddle to halves partner Tyrone Roberts this year but the responsibility will fall squarely on his shoulders against Cronulla at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night given that Roberts failed to overcome a concussion in time for the Magic Round opener.

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“Ash probably needs to stand up and take a bit more of a role on,” coach Garth Brennan said.

“He’ll have AJ (Brimson) alongside him. They played a lot of football together last year and we saw what they could do.”

Ash Taylor has come under fire this season. Picture: Getty Images

Asked if this was the 24-year-old’s chance to prove he can once more be the star playmaker, Brennan was adamant.

“I know he can lead the team around, he doesn’t need to prove anything to me,” he said.

“He just needs to go out there and focus on his own game. He has had a tough start to the year injury-wise and I think he has been playing some decent football; he has just lacked a bit of confidence with the injuries he has had.

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“I think he is over that now and I’m really looking forward to him putting his stamp on the game.”

Kevin Proctor will fill in as captain. Picture: AAP Image

In Roberts’ absence, the captaincy has been handed to Kevin Proctor. On game day it will be two years to the day that Proctor was stripped of the co-captaincy for his involvement in a drugs scandal but Brennan had no hesitation that the second-rower was the man for the job.

“He leads the team anyway regardless of whether he has got the ‘c’ next to his name or not but that extra responsibility I think will bring out the best in Kevin which I am really looking forward to seeing,” Brennan said.

Jesse Arthars has been named to make his debut off the bench but his likely role is being kept secret.

“He’ll have some impact in the game, there’s no doubt about that. Where or when? That’s probably something I will keep to myself,” Brennan smiled.

Cronulla defeated Gold Coast 20-6 at Shark Park in Round 2.