Kobie Mackay-Taylor. The local young utility back signed a muli-year contract with the Titans in 2019 after multiple solid seasons with the Helensvale Hornets and for Coombabah State High School from a school boy rugby league perspective.

In October 2021 Kobie Mackay-Taylor was named in the 2021 Queensland Maori U18 representative side for the 2021 QPICC Cultural Carnival.

Also in October 2021 Kobie Mackay-Taylor was named in the 2022 Easts Tigers U18 MM Cup squad for the second season in a row.
In early November 2020 Kobie Mackay-Taylor trialled for a position in the 2021 Tweed Heads Seagulls MM Cup squad, starting the trial on the left wing.

In 2021 Kobie Macakay-Taylor was part of the Easts Tigers U18 Mal Meninga squad and started on the bench in their 26 – 12 trial victory over the Ipswich Jets. Kobie Mackey-Taylor was also involved in the Tigers Round Six MM Cup match.

In February 2021 Kobie Mackey-Taylor took part in the South Coast Open school boy trials and was named in the centres in the South Coast Maroon Open school boy side as a result of his trial performances.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor started South Coast Maroon’s Day One match at left centre and contibued at left centre on Day Three against Darling Downs producing a good effort in the opening minutes to chase back and tackle a run away Darling Downs outside back who had intercepoted a South Coast Maroons pass from right on his own goal line.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor also produced another outstanding tackle midway through the first half when he came across towards the left corner to force an errant pass from the opposing right centre.

The Day Four fifth place play-off match against Met East saw Kobie Mackay-Taylor also start at left centre and he recorded an early match line break and try assistssist when he was able to run forty five metres down the left winger before throwing a long pass to his inside which, after bouncing was picked up bu Jarde Johnson to dive over under the posts.

In Round One of the Gold Coast Rugby League U18 Division One competition Kobie Mackay-Taylor started at left centre for Runaway Bay as they took on the Mudgeeraba Redbacks.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor literally could not have gotten into the match any earlier making the first tackle of the match after Runaway Bay had kicked off and then when Runaway Bay received the ball for the first time, Kobie Mackay-Taylor took the first hit-up after the Seagulls fullback had fallen on the ball from a Mudgeeraba kick and then took the 4th hit-up in the same set of six.

In the 31st minute Kobie Mackay-Talyor set up a try for his left winger when after he had made a thirty metre break down the left touchline, Kobie Mackay-Taylor threw a great one armed pass (left arm) back inside to his winger who raced fifty metres to score.

The 53rd minute of the match showed that Kobie Mackay-Taylor will also do the hard work in the centre of the field when he took the tap restart after Runaway Bay were awarded a penalty. Kobie Mackay-Taylor was able to progress the ball seventeen metres downfield.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor also started at left centre in Round Two against the Southport Tigers making a line break in just the 4th minute of the match when from a scrum on the halfway mark he made eighteen metres down the left side of the field.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor made a further line break in the 44th minute when he raced off his own line to take an intercept just five metres out with Kobie Mackay-Taylor racing seventy five metres before he was dragged down from behind.

After missing Round Three due to his school boy representative commitments with South Coast, Kobie Mackay-Taylor was named on the bench for Round Four against the Helensvale Hornets.

Round Five saw Kobie Mackay-Taylor start at left centre against Burleigh producing a strong performance in the Seagulls tough loss including scoring two tries and a try assist in the 53rd minute that locked the scores up at 18 all.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor scored his first try in the 47th minute when he dived over in the left corner after receiving a pass from the dummy half down a very skinny left blind side.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor added his second try in the final minute of the match when he followed through a two kicks with the ball bouncing up perfectly for Kobie Mackay-Taylor five metres from the try line for him to dive over adjacent to the left uprights.

In addition to his double, Kobie Mackay-Taylor set up a try in the 53rd minute when after receiving the ball on the left, he got outside of his direct opponent and as the Burleigh right winger came in, Kobie Mackay-Taylor produced an outstanding left arm flick pass to put Jack McKenzie over in the left corner.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor’s afternoon got off to a positive start in the 6th minute when he made a sixteen metre run to just over the halfway mark and did well to stay in the field of play after being tackled close to the left touchline. Then in the 19th minute Kobie Mackay-Taylor made a line break when after receiving the ball in centre field he ran to his left getting outside the Burleigh right sided defence and was able to make twenty two metres before being reeled in by the cover defence.

The 27th minute saw Kobie Mackay-Taylor once again take a strong hit-up making eleven metres to get the ball out of his own twenty metre area and then in the 51st minute when he made thirteen metres from right on his own try line.

Whilst he scored a double and set up another, Kobie Mackay-Taylor’s defence was even more impressive than his efforts in attack with the left centre making two try saving tackles. Kobie Mackay-Taylor’s first try saving tackle coming in the 21st minute when he brought down Burleigh right second rower Aston Bai when he looked certain to score.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor was at it again in the 55th minute when he brought down Aston Bai once again with a great tackle with the try line beckoning the Burleigh second rower.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor also produced a strong tackle in the 7th minute when defending from a scrum he raced up to hit the Burleigh right centre just after he had received the ball with Kobie Mackay-Taylor’s initial contact forcing the ball loose.

2021 also saw Kobie Mackay-Taylor line up once again for Coombabah State High School in the South East Queensland School Boy Langer Cup competition starting Round One at left centre against Mabel Park State High School.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor had a solid match against the Langer Cup newcomers including recording a try assist in the 8th minute when after making space for himself, Kobie Mackay-Taylor was able to draw in the Mable Park right side defence to give Filisi Frost the space to fly down the left touchline to score in the corner.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor also started at left centre in Coombabah SHS’s touch Round Two loss against Wavell State High School.
In January 2020 Kobie Mackey-Taylor was part of the Titans U16 side that played the Newcastle Knights U16 Harold Matthews side in Coffs Harbour in their annual match.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor started the match against Newcastle on the left wing and scored the Titans first try of the match in the first half when he was on the back of a Titans backline movement and a cut out pass from Titans fullback Blake Forder and Kobie Mackay-Taylor was able to dive over from close range in the left corner under pressure from the Newcastle defence.

Prior to crossing the try line Kobie Mackay-Taylor was able to fend off a would be Knights defender being the Knights right winger in that instance on the way to the line. The Knights defender had come in to try to tackle Kobie Mackay-Taylor just as he was to receive the ball but Kobie Mackay-Taylor was too strong and was able to break the attempted tackle.

In February 2020 Kobie Mackey-Taylor was named in the Gold Coast Vikings U16 Training Squad for the 2020 U16 South East Queensland Challenge but unfortunately the Championships fell victim to the Covid 19 pandemic just days before that Challenge was due to kick off in Ipswich.

Also in 2020 Kobie Mackay-Taylor was part of the Coombabah State High School Langer Cup Open A school boy rugby league squad for the Term Three school boy rugby league competition including their 2020 Langer Cup main draw qualifying match in Toowoomba against St Mary’s when he started the match at left centre.

After being knocked out of the Langer Cup, Kobie Mackay-Taylor and his Coombabah State High School team mates took part of the Gee Cup school boy competition, going through the competition as the undefeated Southern Division Champions and taking on Mabel Park State High School in the 2020 Gee Cup Grand Final that was held at Langlands Park.

In the 2020 Gee Cup Grand Final that Coombabah won 50 – 8 Kobie Mackay-Taylor started at left centre and had an impressive match especially in the first half and was unlucky not to have scored early in the match but the referee ruled that he lost the ball over the line in the left corner.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor also made a long break down the left touch line early in the match showcasing his ability to get on the outside of his opponent and also highlighting his deceptive speed.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor was however named in the South East Queensland Sharks U18 touch side for the National Youth Championships that were held in October 2020, with the Sharks losing their semi-final 8 – 6.

The young Helensvale Hornets fullback, winger or centre signed a multi-year contract with the Titans early in 2019 after a stellar campaign with the Hornets in 2018 in the GCRL U14 Division One competition as well as for the Gold Coast Vikings U14 representative side at the 2019 Hill Stumer Championships.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor played the 2019 season with Helensvale in the GCRL U15 Division One competition playing in six regular season matches for the Hornets scoring three tries including a double against Ormeau in May and also scoring in a match against Runaway Bay mid-season to finish with a 50% strike rate.

In Week One of the 2019 GCRL U15 Division One Finals series Kobie Mackay-Taylor started in the centres and scored as the Hornets defeated the Ormeau Shearers 20 – 14 to progress to the Preliminary Final against the Nerang Roosters.

Week Three of the 2019 U15 Division One Finals saw Kobie Mackay-Taylor start in the centres but unfortunately his Helensvale Hornets side were defeated in the Preliminary Final 22 – 18 by Nerang to end their season one win short of a Grand Final berth.

2019 also saw Kobie Mackay-Taylor represent the South Coast U15 QSSRL side that went through the Championships undefeated and as a result was selected in the Queensland White side for the ASSRL U15 Championships.

At the ASSRL U15 Championships Kobie Mackay-Taylor played primarily on the left wing for the Queensland White side including scoring on Day One in a good win against ACT 20 – 4. Kobie Mackay-Taylor’s try was as a result of him backing up a long break from the Queensland White left centre.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor stayed out on his left wing and correctly positioned himself to take the pass four metres out from the try line when his centre was caught by the ACT cover defence. Kobie Mackay-Taylor was then able to bring the ball around a touch once he had gotten into the in-goal area.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor also played for Coombabah State High School in their various school boy rugby league competitions in 2019.

In late 2019 Kobie Mackay-Taylor started on the left wing for the Titans U15 side defeated a touring Balmain Tigers side 34 – 16 with Kobie Mackay-Taylor scoring an impressive long range try. Kobie Mackay-Taylor received the ball from the Titans fullback fifty five metres out from the line, beating the Balmain right winger down the touch line before producing an outstanding right arm fend to beat the initial cover defence before producing an outstanding in and away to beat the Balmain fullback and score in the left corner.

In 2018 Kobie Mackay-Taylor represented South East Queensland White U14’s in the Queensland Age Championships finishing as the competitions leading point scorer with thirty points from his four matches including three tries and nine goals playing on the wing.

In Round One Kobie Mackay-Taylor kicked a goal against SEQ Green, Round Two saw him score a try and kick three goals against Central and in Round Three Kobie Mackay-Taylor scored a double and kicked three goals against Northern. Kobie Mackay-Taylor then started on the wing in the final kicking two conversions in a 16 all draw against SEQ Green.

For the Helensvale Hornets U14 Division One side in 2018, Kobie Mackay-Taylor played primarily at fullback including in their 29 – 12 Grand Final victory over Coomera, playing in ten matches overall. Team mates in the Grand Final winning side were fellow Titans contracted players, second rower Zac Johnson and centre Te Haeta Takamore.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor was also part of the Helensvale U14 side that won the Tassell Trophy in 2018 scoring in the Hornets 40 – 6 Tournament final victory over the Western Lions.

Even though he does not have great top end speed Kobie Mackay-Taylor is quick enough to take advantage of any space that he is given down the touchline by opposing outside backs. Kobie Mackay-Taylor’s bread and butter play in the centres is a good in an away to hold the defender and beat him on the outside, Kobie Mackay-Taylor then has the ability to draw and pass to his support if the opposing winger looks to come in, thus creating an overlap either on the outside or the inside to his team mates to exploit.

When playing on the wing Kobie Mackay-Taylor always seems to stick to the sideline which means his inside attackers will know where he is at all times, thus allowing them to confidently off load the ball if an overlap is created. I have not seen him score any highlight reel tries that seem to be the norm for modern day wingers but Kobie Mackay-Taylor will score the tries that he needs to and the team needs him to.

In terms of defence, Kobie Mackay-Taylor is solid from a technique and initial contact perspective and seemingly understands the attributes of his opposite number to the extent that he alters his defensive positioning if he is against speedy, elusive wingers or against larger wingers who look to try to run straight over him.

His time at fullback has clearly helped Kobie Mackay-Taylor in situations where positioning in defence is critical in terms of when to tackle low compared to looking to when to wrap up the attacking player with a ball and all tackle. Kobie Mackay-Taylor has the size to handle both tackling low as well as defending in a ball and all fashion depending on the circumstances that confronts him at a particular time.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor is already an outstanding goal kicker and there is little doubt that he has the ability to be any team’s first choice goal kicker regardless of the level of the competition that he is playing in. Kobie Mackay-Taylor has an effortless clean kicking action which is simple and repeatable and generates distance as well as accuracy. Kobie Mackay-Taylor will regularly kick conversions from right on the sidelines.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor will play the 2022 Gold Coast Rugby League season in the U18 Division One GCRL competition for Runaway Bay after the competion of the 2022 MM Cup competition with Kobie Mackay-Taylor playing for the Easts Tigers in that competition.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor will also be a key member of the Coombabah State High School Rugby League side in their school boy rugby league competitions in 2022, likely including their Langer Cup Open A and GIO Cup school boy rugby league teams.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor has played on the wing or in the centres almost exclusively in club and representative sides and whilst he has played a couple of matches at fullback in recent seasons in representative rugby league sides I believe that Kobie Mackay-Taylors future likely lies on the wing, specifically the left wing.

When playing on the wing Kobie Mackay-Taylor can use his size to maintain his running line and balance under pressure and also use it to come in off his wing and take hit-ups either running from dummy half or taking the ball off the dummy half when his side is bringing the ball out from their own territory.

Kobie Mackay-Taylor is also very safe under the high ball utilising a controlled jumping technique not dis-similar to that of Titan Anthony Don in terms of the timing and height that Kobie Mackay-Taylor gets on his leap. Like Don, Kobie Mackay-Taylor is very safe under the high ball.

From a player comparison perspective in relation to Kobie Mackay-Taylor of someone along the lines of North Queensland Cowboy, Australian Nine’s representative s and former Queensland State of Origin right winger Kyle Feldt as a solid winger who will score his fair share of tries by being in the right place at the right time rather than individual heroics or spectacular plays per say and not make simple unforced errors to place his side under undue pressure.

Like Feldt, Kobie Mackay-Taylor also has the size to run the ball effectively out of dummy half and make ground especially when his team is bringing the ball out of their own territory. Similiarly Kobie Mackay-Taylor like Feldt will get across the line on a regular basis.