Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor plotting the downfall of the club that sacked him
Adrian Proszenko
Published: March 17, 2015 - 10:00PM
Jason Taylor is plotting the downfall of South Sydney as a head coach for the first time since his sacking from the club almost six years ago.
Taylor, who took South Sydney to the finals in 2008, had his time at Redfern cut short prematurely following the infamous Sad Sunday affair, in which he was knocked out by forward David Fa'alogo at the traditional end-of-season shenanigans after the 2009 season.
The former halfback was sacked over the incident. However, he had a financial victory when an out-of-court settlement was reached with the club. Having spent time as an assistant to Trent Robinson at arch rivals the Roosters, this season marks his return as a head coach with Wests Tigers, a team also undefeated after the opening two rounds.
While it won't generate the same build up as the Rabbitohs-Roosters clash at the same venue a week earlier, Taylor's history at Souths adds spice to what is shaping as another anticipated clash at ANZ Stadium on Sunday. The Tigers will be attempting to do what no other team has done this a season, which has seen the premiers go on an undefeated run throughout the World Club Series, the Nines, the Charity Shield and the opening weeks of the premiership.
Taylor refused to be drawn on his time at Souths or his acrimonious departure. When pressed, he offered only: "It's a non event. It's nothing, zero."
However, he was more expansive when it came to footballing matters, labelling the foundation club the team to beat after an extraordinary start to their title defence.
"You couldn't start the season in much more impressive fashion," said Taylor, who has coached some of the stalwarts in the Souths squad.
"What they did in the World Club Challenge, beating the Broncos the way they did and then beating the Roosters.
"I think their confidence at the moment is higher than it's ever been. There were a few years where they got close [to a title] and didn't quite make it, so there would have been a few doubts. Now they've got the result they were after, the confidence they will all take out of that will be a big factor and that's what you're seeing at the moment.
"They are a really confident team and it didn't matter what the scoreboard said on the weekend, they just kept coming."
The Tigers and Bunnies met twice last season, sharing the spoils. However, much has changed for both teams since. The Rabbitohs have overcome the departures of Sam Burgess and Ben Te'o without missing a beat, while Taylor brought with him a new coaching staff and structures since taking over from Mick Potter.
Taylor said he was unsurprised the bookies have installed Souths as favourites to go back-to-back, a feat not achieved since the great Broncos sides of 1992-93.
"If that's what the betting is, there would be massive questions asked if they weren't favourites at the moment," he said.
"There is definitely not one little sign [of a grand final hangover]. The way they finished off the game on the weekend was really impressive. They sent a clear message to everyone that they are the team to beat. It's going to be a great challenge for us to see if we can get to that level ourselves."
It is only early days in his Tigers' tenure, but Taylor is pleased with the steps the club has taken during a rebuild.
"There was a trial against a Parramatta team that didn't have many players in and there there was a trial against the Sharks with their players in, but they were rusty due to new players," he said. "The Gold Coast played with a lot of emotion but they had some players out. They were extreme circumstances.
"The Dragons were going to be another step up from that with Benji playing against the Tigers. [He] was going to throw a lot at us. Now we've got the premiers, so it's been a progression of challenges where they are becoming bigger week after week. It doesn't get any bigger than this one."
This story was found at:
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...the-club-that-sacked-him-20150317-1m19xh.html
