Ashley Taylor admits being a lone playmaker was harder than he’d expected it to be
TITANS rookie Ashley Taylor is sweating on the return of five-eighth Tyrone Roberts after admitting he had a target on his back as the Gold Coast’s only playmaker.
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TITANS rookie Ashley Taylor is sweating on the return of five-eighth Tyrone Roberts after admitting he had a target on his back as the Gold Coast’s only playmaker.
Taylor performed admirably in Friday night’s 24-16 loss to the Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium.
In just his sixth NRL appearance, the former Broncos young gun had the bulk of the playmaking duties, as Greg Bird filled in at five-eighth.
Taylor kicked 17 times compared to Bird’s four and was repeatedly crunched by Broncos enforcers Adam Blair and Sam Thaiday.
The 21-year-old battled through a shoulder injury to finish the game and is in doubt for next Sunday’s trip to Cronulla.
With Roberts (knee) also racing the clock to prove his fitness, coach Neil Henry could look to the untested Cameron Cullen to provide another sixth-tackle option, something Taylor said would be crucial.
“It was tougher than I thought (being the only half),” Taylor said.
“At training it was all right but on the field it’s a different story. The pace is a lot faster.
“I was out there by myself. I didn’t really have another five-eighth out there.
“I tried to do the best I can I to steer the team around but our last-play options weren’t as good as I want them to be.
“I put a lot of pressure on myself. I wasn’t getting into the right position because they were shooting hard at me.
“They (teammates) rely on you a lot more and the defence targets you when you’re kicking.
“It was challenging but I thought I did an all-right job.”
Henry was coy about his team selections leading into the Broncos game but the Sharks will be well prepared if Taylor is the only playmaker in the team again.
“We miss Tyrone Roberts in the halves,” Henry said.
“Birdy does his best but Tyrone offers us another good kicking game.
“A lot fell to Ash Taylor and he’s only had a handful of first grade games.
“The kick he put on for (David Mead) to score was a great kick. It was a nice touch.
“There was some inexperience for all to see for what we need in our halves.
“He’s showing he’s maturing quite quickly and he’s had to. I’m very happy he’s been able to do it.”
Taylor has undergone three shoulder reconstructions, including two on the left shoulder he injured against Brisbane.
Initial indications were it was just a contact injury and Taylor said he expected to face the Sharks.
“I just went low and got a numb shoulder,” he said.
“I didn’t want to cost us an interchange. I wanted to be out there for the boys and try and bring us home.
“It’s pulled up all right. It’s not as bad as I thought it was.
“Shoulder injuries can put a cloud over you. I want to put myself in the best position to get right.”
Prop David Shillington is no guarantee to head to Cronulla after straining a hip flexor in the warm-up on Friday night.
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Originally published as Ashley Taylor admits being a lone playmaker was harder than he’d expected it to be
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