Former Titans star and Brothers helps next generation of players

He was one of the NRL’s most promising playmakers before injury bought a sudden end to his career – now Ash Taylor is helping shape the next generation of Toowoomba league players.

The next generation of Toowoomba rugby league stars were given a ‘titan sized’ helping hand this week.

Former Gold Coast Titans halfback and (Toowoomba) Brothers junior Ash Taylor was on deck to lead the Rebel Rookies clinic at the Toowoomba Sports Ground on Wednesday.

“It is an activity for the kids, a partnership between Rebel and PSM (Pacific Sports Management) to keep kids active to see if they find a sport they love playing and see if we can develop their skills,” Taylor said.

The 28-year-old was excited to be involved in this initiative as it followed in the footsteps of his idols who inspired him in a similar manner when he was a kid.

“It is awesome, obviously I had to finish footy a bit earlier than I had intended but there is still a lot of knowledge and skills I can work on with these kids to try get them to where I got to and without those ex- players doing it to me, I wouldn’t have got there either,” Taylor said.

“It is good putting the time and effort into the next generation and hopefully a few of these kids can make it to where I made it.”

The Toowoomba Brothers junior has returned to his hometown since his retirement from NRL and took on his first stint as a full-time coach in this year when he led the Newtown Lions A-grade side, a challenge which he has taken in his stride.

“It was pretty tough, obviously Newtown is rebuilding and it was a tough year for myself but it is a lesson that I learned and I met some great people along the way,” he said.

“It is a great club and I’m sure there is a lot of success that is going to come their way in the future.

Ash Taylor of Gold Coast Titans v St George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL round 3 at Clive Berghofer Stadium in 2018.

“It is a smaller club, they don’t have as much money … I just tried to do the best I can and that was just trying to be competitive in games because last year was a forgetful season and this year was a bit better – it was a stepping stone but we want to be better.”

With the Lions winning just two games this season, Taylor said the biggest challenge he faced as coach was maintaining the positive spirit among the side despite the results.

“A lot of guys in the TRL wouldn’t be happy with turning up and getting flogged every week,” he said.

“So I just tried to change that mindset to try and think positive about what is coming.

“Obviously we are building so we just need to keep the numbers there and work with what we’ve got.”

Taylor was also impressed with the rugby league talent which is coming through Toowoomba and stated the importance the Western Clydesdales had on developing quality players in the region.

Former NRL star Ashley Taylor (back) with Hugo Weedon (middle left), Aden Lisaght, Ryder Weedon, Elii Russell, Kai Davis, Flynn Davis, Julius Huss, Winnie Delahunty (front left) and Hermione Rigby at the Rebel Rookies event at Toowoomba Sports Ground on Wednesday.

“It is why we have the QCup team here, there are a lot of players who are from the region and have the talent to go elsewhere, it is just good that they can stay home now in Toowoomba and play at that kind of level,” he said.

“There is a lot of talent here, it is just a matter of how we keep them here and how we develop them into NRL pathways programs.”

Taylor said he would love to continue coaching rugby league in the future but said his family took top priority.

“It is just a matter of weighing up things with my family, I have finished NRL now and I just want to do what’s right for my family; that is to be the best dad and partner that I can be,” he said.

“If I can do those two things, then I will just see where it takes me.”