Amid rumours linking Dave Taylor to a Japan rugby move, Gold Coast coach Neil Henry admits he can’t guarantee the inconsistent big man’s NRL future at the Titans.

Not taking a backward step after controversially demoting Taylor to 18th man ahead of Sunday’s NRL win over Canterbury, Henry admitted the club may have to explore their options with the ex-Queensland State of Origin X-factor.

In the Maroons’ team barely a year ago, Taylor has suffered a dramatic fall from grace at the Gold Coast with a year still left on his $400,000-plus annual contract.

There are reports he has been shopped around to English Super League clubs as well as the speculation Taylor will take the big bucks offered in Japanese rugby next year.

Henry wasn’t ruling anything out after leaving him out of their impressive 28-14 NRL victory over the Bulldogs despite the absence of forward Nate Myles (Origin duty).

“He’s contracted and by rights he will be here next year,” Henry told Triple M NRL radio.

“But we need to explore other options – he does have a healthy contract out of the salary cap.

“We need to say ‘mate you need to be making a statement that you are going to be here long term’.

“And I haven’t seen that so far this year. That’s the honest truth about it.”

The Gold Coast are looking at cutting underperforming players after Daly Cherry-Evans’ backflip on his lucrative Titans deal and Myles’ 2016 Manly move opened up salary cap space.

The Titans reportedly first sounded out English Super League clubs before speculation emerged Taylor may be headed for a code switch.

“He’s got a year to go and I think we all know Dave can be brilliant one week and doesn’t quite get there the week after – consistency has been his problem,” Henry said.

“He’s such a talented footballer for a big man, so skilled.

“It’s not a hard job for him but he just needs to do that job every week.”