Gold Coast Titans forward Dave Taylor has more impact when he starts, says coach John Cartwright
FOR years Dave Taylor was told to realise his full potential, he had to go out every game and have an impact.
That one word, impact, stuck in his head and ruined his entire game.
The problem for Taylor, and the issue the Gold Coast Titans identified towards the end of last season, is that the Coal Train is easily overloaded with information.
To him impact meant coming on off the bench and immediately delivering the game turning play. A cut out pass you wouldnt expect. An offload that was never on or any other trick in his halfback-like repertoire that second rowers should avoid.
But for Taylor to excel he must relax and let the game come to him. Coach John Cartwright knows that is the secret of the NRLs greatest enigma and why he has opted to start him in round one against Cronulla on Monday night.
He is a rare guy who can win you games on his own, so we need him consistently playing at his peak and then were going to be a much better side, Cartwright said.
He is not quite suited off the bench Dave. He played his best football for us last year when he started.
He generally plays better when he starts on the run on side, that is the theory were going with and its up to Dave to keep that spot now.
He is a high energy player and if anything youve got to calm him down. The more relaxed he is the better he plays.
He is a very naturally gifted footballer, so he doesnt have to force himself on the game.
If he relaxes and makes sure he does all his own jobs the game will come to him. One of the more unique characters to grace a rugby league field, the Titans are hopeful 2014 could be the making of Taylor.
If finding himself as a player is as difficult as locating his wallet or mobile phone, its no wonder Taylor is now in his ninth season of first grade and still looking for answers.
Taylors lost both his phone or wallet more times than he's skittled defenders and it is that absent-mindedness that the Titans embraced.
The 25-year-old was told a few weeks before preseason that training would be different this year, theyd ease him through November before ramping it up around Christmas.
Excited at that prospect Taylor did extra work at home, changed his diet and arrived fresh, fit and ready to go. Within days he was doubled-over in exhaustion. Hed been sold a red herring.
Youve got to play games with blokes every now and then just to keep them mentally sharp, assistant coach Trevor Gillmeister said.
He is getting a bit older and maybe he has realised he has got so much talent there.
I dont think any player wanted to be known as a bloke that never fulfilled his potential.
Natural talent gets you through til youre about 16 or 17, then it means jack. Youd rather have a good work ethic than natural talent. But if you have natural talent and a good work ethic, the sky is the limit.
Im not going to get carried away just yet, because he hasnt played a game. But it just seems to have sunk in a bit more with him.
