DIEHARD
10-04-13, 10:15 AM
Gold Coast Titans' recruit Dave Taylor stood down for breaching team rules
DAVE Taylor must earn back the trust of Gold Coast coach John Cartwright after his poor attitude and brazen disobedience forced the club to stand him down for two weeks.
It is understood Cartwright questioned the attitude of Taylor on more than one occasion already this season and another incident of insubordination last weekend was the final straw for club officials.
The high-priced South Sydney recruit has struggled to fit into the Titans' program in his first year on the Coast.
Taylor will have three games in which to impress Queensland selectors who sacked him on the basis of form for the deciding game last year.
He is understood to have voiced frustration regarding the game plan following the loss to the Broncos on Friday.
On several occasions in the game, Taylor was visibly annoyed at not receiving the ball on the left edge where he was targeting Scott Prince.
The Titans refused to detail the reasons for Taylor's axing, but it is understood a string of minor code of conduct breaches forced them to act.
Cartwright said alcohol was not behind Taylor's demotion.
"He broke some team protocols," Cartwright said.
"You've got a code you govern your team by and he broke a few of those rules.
"We were left with no choice really. It's extremely disappointing. He's let the club and his teammates down."
It is the first time Taylor, 24, has been stood down for disciplinary reasons, although his attitude to training and diet has been questioned throughout his eight-year career which began at the Broncos in 2006.
Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire was also unhappy with Taylor's attitude to training on more than one occasion last season.
Broncos captain Sam Thaiday said his former teammate risked falling off the State of Origin radar unless he improved his off-field attitude.
Taylor was axed from the Origin decider last year, partly due to personal problems, and Thaiday hoped his Titans demotion acted as a wake-up call.
"I thought he was kind of out of that Sydney lifestyle that he was in," Thaiday said.
"I thought he was very settled with his family on the Gold Coast so I hope it's only a one-off and he learns his lesson very quickly.
"Hopefully he can get back to playing some good footy because he is a fantastic player but sometimes he does some silly things.
"He's a big part of that Origin squad. If he doesn't get his act right he will miss a great opportunity there.
"No one wants to miss out on those teams.
"He's a freakish player. For someone of his weight and size to have his skill is ridiculous. "
In the pre-season, Taylor had spoken glowingly of life on the tourist strip and had shed several kilograms.
"I heard he was in a good mind-frame going to the Gold Coast," Thaiday said.
"We've got a lot of players waiting in the wings and are willing to do a job for Queensland, so he has to be very careful there."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/
DAVE Taylor must earn back the trust of Gold Coast coach John Cartwright after his poor attitude and brazen disobedience forced the club to stand him down for two weeks.
It is understood Cartwright questioned the attitude of Taylor on more than one occasion already this season and another incident of insubordination last weekend was the final straw for club officials.
The high-priced South Sydney recruit has struggled to fit into the Titans' program in his first year on the Coast.
Taylor will have three games in which to impress Queensland selectors who sacked him on the basis of form for the deciding game last year.
He is understood to have voiced frustration regarding the game plan following the loss to the Broncos on Friday.
On several occasions in the game, Taylor was visibly annoyed at not receiving the ball on the left edge where he was targeting Scott Prince.
The Titans refused to detail the reasons for Taylor's axing, but it is understood a string of minor code of conduct breaches forced them to act.
Cartwright said alcohol was not behind Taylor's demotion.
"He broke some team protocols," Cartwright said.
"You've got a code you govern your team by and he broke a few of those rules.
"We were left with no choice really. It's extremely disappointing. He's let the club and his teammates down."
It is the first time Taylor, 24, has been stood down for disciplinary reasons, although his attitude to training and diet has been questioned throughout his eight-year career which began at the Broncos in 2006.
Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire was also unhappy with Taylor's attitude to training on more than one occasion last season.
Broncos captain Sam Thaiday said his former teammate risked falling off the State of Origin radar unless he improved his off-field attitude.
Taylor was axed from the Origin decider last year, partly due to personal problems, and Thaiday hoped his Titans demotion acted as a wake-up call.
"I thought he was kind of out of that Sydney lifestyle that he was in," Thaiday said.
"I thought he was very settled with his family on the Gold Coast so I hope it's only a one-off and he learns his lesson very quickly.
"Hopefully he can get back to playing some good footy because he is a fantastic player but sometimes he does some silly things.
"He's a big part of that Origin squad. If he doesn't get his act right he will miss a great opportunity there.
"No one wants to miss out on those teams.
"He's a freakish player. For someone of his weight and size to have his skill is ridiculous. "
In the pre-season, Taylor had spoken glowingly of life on the tourist strip and had shed several kilograms.
"I heard he was in a good mind-frame going to the Gold Coast," Thaiday said.
"We've got a lot of players waiting in the wings and are willing to do a job for Queensland, so he has to be very careful there."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/