TITAN PETE
03-08-13, 08:30 AM
Travis Meyn
Gold Coast Bulletin
August 03, 2013 12:00AM
STRUGGLING Titans forward Dave Taylor has been challenged to stand and deliver his team a finals berth as it emerged the "Coaltrain" is costing the Gold Coast nearly $500 a minute.
Taylor is set to activate a contractual clause that will keep him at the Titans for another three years but his debut season has been far from impressive.
The Titans are on a four-match losing streak with Saturday's Skilled Park encounter against second-last Wests Tigers a must-win clash to keep their finals dreams alive.
And with forwards Greg Bird (ankle), Nate Myles (groin) and Ryan James (groin) facing fitness tests this morning, Taylor must step up and deliver.
He has played 744 minutes in Titans colours this year but has failed to live up to his $350,000-a-season price tag with his statistics being far down on his last season at the Rabbitohs.
The 25-year-old has made just one linebreak in 2013 compared to 14 last year, and broken only 20 tackles after breaking 88 in 2012. He hasn't scored a try since round one.
His poor form has seen coach John Cartwright opt for the reliable Ben Ridge in the starting side with Taylor only earning five starts from 14 games.
"I love turning up to watch the Titans play when Dave's in the team because I get excited about what he can produce," said former Titan Chris Walker.
"He's no longer a kid anymore. He's been around long enough now that he should be able to start taking control of games with his presence.
"He's a lump of a lad and a nice kid but he hasn't taken his game to the next level. Once he does, he'll be that destructive."
Taylor signed a two-year deal with the option for another two years and has until the end of the year to activate the option.
Gold Coast Bulletin
August 03, 2013 12:00AM
STRUGGLING Titans forward Dave Taylor has been challenged to stand and deliver his team a finals berth as it emerged the "Coaltrain" is costing the Gold Coast nearly $500 a minute.
Taylor is set to activate a contractual clause that will keep him at the Titans for another three years but his debut season has been far from impressive.
The Titans are on a four-match losing streak with Saturday's Skilled Park encounter against second-last Wests Tigers a must-win clash to keep their finals dreams alive.
And with forwards Greg Bird (ankle), Nate Myles (groin) and Ryan James (groin) facing fitness tests this morning, Taylor must step up and deliver.
He has played 744 minutes in Titans colours this year but has failed to live up to his $350,000-a-season price tag with his statistics being far down on his last season at the Rabbitohs.
The 25-year-old has made just one linebreak in 2013 compared to 14 last year, and broken only 20 tackles after breaking 88 in 2012. He hasn't scored a try since round one.
His poor form has seen coach John Cartwright opt for the reliable Ben Ridge in the starting side with Taylor only earning five starts from 14 games.
"I love turning up to watch the Titans play when Dave's in the team because I get excited about what he can produce," said former Titan Chris Walker.
"He's no longer a kid anymore. He's been around long enough now that he should be able to start taking control of games with his presence.
"He's a lump of a lad and a nice kid but he hasn't taken his game to the next level. Once he does, he'll be that destructive."
Taylor signed a two-year deal with the option for another two years and has until the end of the year to activate the option.