John Sutton has backed David Taylor to show Queensland what he is all about when South Sydney take on Brisbane on Friday.
Taylor was castigated following his quiet performance in the Maroons’ State of Origin defeat to NSW with former great Greg Dowling calling for the 124kg giant to be dropped for next month’s decider.
Taylor bounced back from the Maroons’ 16-12 defeat with a barnstorming display for Souths in the Saturday’s 24-6 NRL win over Parramatta.
However, there’s been speculation Canterbury’s in-form New Zealand-born prop Sam Kasiano would be chosen ahead of Taylor for game three in Brisbane on July 4.
But Sutton believes Taylor will step up again for the fourth-placed Rabbitohs when they take on the Broncos, who sit third, at Suncorp Stadium.
“I am sure playing up in Brisbane against some of his Queensland teammates will fire up both Dave and GI (Greg Inglis),” said Sutton.
“He didn’t have the best night in Origin two, but he played really well for us against Parra and, hopefully, he can have another big one for us on Friday.”
Taylor hit out at his critics in the media following the win over the Eels, saying they were not qualified to judge his performances.
But Sutton said the 23-year-old has not been any different around his Souths teammates and that any criticism does not affect him.
“I don’t think he reads into it too much,” Sutton said.
“He doesn’t really care what’s said about him and, hopefully, he can rise to the occasion in Brisbane again.”
Inglis will be fit to face the club he snubbed to sign for Souths in 2010 after sustaining ligament damage and hyper-extending his elbow against the Eels.
Sutton said the in-form Queensland star was showing no signs of discomfort and would be fit to play.
“He seems fine, I’ve not been told he’s going to be out and I expect him to be in the team,” he said.