Taylor needs to be kept in NRL: Thaiday

Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday thinks it would be a shame if the NRL loses the talents of former teammate Dave Taylor.

The former Queensland and Australia giant is reportedly on the way out of Gold Coast, with the Titans believed to have given permission for the 27-year-old to negotiate with English Super League teams.

It would be an ignominious end to the NRL career of Taylor, who arrived at the Titans as their marquee signing in 2012 from South Sydney.

The 120kg forward has battled poor form and injuries during his time on the Gold Coast and earlier this year was charged with alleged drug offences as part of the cocaine scandal which swept through the Titans.

A player who has always threatened to be one of the game’s biggest stars is now apparently facing the prospect of spending the final year of his Titans contract playing Queensland Cup unless a new home can be found.

Thaiday, who has played alongside Taylor at the Broncos as well as for state and country, says that outcome would be a terrible waste.

“I think he’d be a fantastic lock or an edge backrower,” Thaiday said.

“If you’re a halfback and he’s in front of you, one, you have to worry about his size but then he’s got that ball-playing ability and he’s also got great footwork and speed as well.

“He’s a player that we’d love to keep here in the NRL because he’s an entertaining player to watch. He’s so unpredictable. I’d be disappointed to see him go, if that’s what happens, but I’m sure he’d be back at some point.”

Taylor and the Titans make the short trip north on Friday to take on the table-topping Broncos in an NRL derby.

The Broncos confirmed on Tuesday centre Jack Reed will cop a one-match ban for a dangerous contact charge from Sunday’s win over Wests Tigers.

Jordan Kahu is expected to move in from the wing in Reed’s place with Corey Oates to come off the bench and into a starting role.

Neither halfback Ben Hunt nor forward Alex Glenn trained on Tuesday morning, with both rested.

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