ELIJAH Taylor was unwanted at one club but became a senior player at another just days later. Now he faces the possibility of finding his third club in six months, describing the rugby league rollercoaster as a bit of a strange world.
Dumped to NSW Cup and unwanted by new coach Anthony Griffin at Penrith, Taylor was welcomed with open arms by the Wests Tigers.
But with halves Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks agreeing to rich one year deals for next season, Taylor faces the possibility of being squeezed out, having signed on at the Tigers for the remainder of 2016.
Elijah Taylor is hoping he has found a home at Leichhardt. When I look back it was very frustrating, Taylor said. I worked really hard in the pre-season at Penrith. I played as hard as I could for the reserves. If you keep working hard youll get the result somewhere. This is the result.
Mentally it was very tough trying to get up for games and try and play as hard as you can for the reserves. Its a bit of a strange world.
If someone told me last year that Id be playing for the Tigers this year, Id say youre crazy there is no way Im leaving Penrith. Whats happened to me is a great example of how something can change so quickly when there is a new coach or new agenda at a club.
I knew I wanted to come here and play first grade. I dont know about any longer deals. (Joining three clubs in six months) would be pretty weird. Its rugby league man, we all know its a business.
Taylor has been something of a lucky charm since his Tigers debut.Taylor has been something of a lucky charm since his Tigers debut. Source: News Corp Australia
The Tigers have dropped just two of their five games since Taylor made his club debut in round 10. Taylor said he felt comfortable with coach Jason Taylors desire to entrust him as a senior player.
His first message was leadership, Elijah says of the coach. He really wanted some more leaders in the team. That was the main point. One of my strong suits is defence.
We know we can attack. Defensively, mentally we need to be a bit stronger and keep turning up for each other. We do that, we can do anything in this competition.
The Tigers sit just two points outside the top eight. They get a chance to show if they are finals ready when they play the Storm in Melbourne on Sunday.
Its going to tell us a lot about ourselves, Taylor said. Its going to give us a gauge of where we are at as a playing group.
While Taylor has relished a return to the top grade since making his mid-season switch, the Kiwi international is struggling with Sydneys traffic. Still living in Penriths heartland of Glenmore Park, he has battled with making the near daily journey to the Tigers Concord training base.
I leave home at 5.30 am, even if we start at 10 Ill still leave early, Taylor said. I hate being late. I want to be here nice and early. I get to the tea room. Tim Grant just moved to Penrith so well start car pooling.
