Titans welcome back Taylor after NRL ban
By Laine Clark
AAP
Mon 22nd April, 4:41pm
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All is forgiven for David Taylor at the Gold Coast Titans.
So dramatic has Taylor's turnaround been at the Titans that Gold Coast boss David May on Monday not only rubber stamped his NRL return but predicted representative honours this season for the hulking forward.
The player dubbed "the Coal Train" appeared to have gone off the rails when slapped with a two-week NRL ban by the Titans for disciplinary reasons.
But Taylor is now on track to run out against Newcastle at Skilled Park on Sunday after receiving a glowing endorsement from May.
Taylor's dramatic fall from grace was put in perspective when he played for Tweed Heads in the Queensland Cup last weekend - barely 12 months earlier he was making his Test debut for Australia.
However, Taylor was seen in a very different light by May on Monday.
"We put a series of sanctions in place that we thought was in keeping with what he had done," May said.
"He responded so as far as we are concerned that is the end of it.
"He has admitted to the mistakes he has made.
"We think the way he has reacted is exactly what we would have looked for.
"If he continues to focus on his football then I have no doubt he will be playing representative footy before long."
Asked if Titans players now expected Taylor back in the NRL side, May said: "Yeah.
"Everyone at this club wants to see Dave succeed.
"It's been well publicised that he has made some mistakes in the last month or so.
"But I am pleased with how he has reacted personally. We just want to see the continued improvement."
It is another shot in the arm for Taylor after Queensland coach Mal Meninga revealed the forward was still in the Origin mix this year despite his recent dramas - as long as he had the right attitude.
Veteran forward Luke Bailey had no problem with Taylor donning the Titans colours again.
"He's copped some outside criticism but a lot of people are not sure what is going on inside this place," he said.
"I have been happy with how he is going and look forward to seeing him back in the team.
"He was pretty upbeat at training (after the ban) - that is a sign that he has matured.
"He could have dragged his feet around but he put in a pretty good performance (for Tweed) on the weekend - what more can you do?"