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Taylor nears NRL return after Qld Cup win

3 minute read

After a successful return to the playing field for Queensland Cup team Tweed Heads on Saturday, Ashley Taylor is nearing an NRL return for Gold Coast.

ASHLEY TAYLOR of the titans runs with the ball during the NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and the Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.
ASHLEY TAYLOR of the titans runs with the ball during the NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and the Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Picture: Jason O'Brien/Getty Images

Gold Coast halfback Ash Taylor could return to the NRL as soon as this week after a successful return to the playing field last Saturday.

Taylor hasn't played in the NRL since the Titans' round 12 defeat by North Queensland, taking a break from the game due to personal issues.

He returned to action in the Queensland Cup, scoring a try as Tweed Heads came from behind to defeat Central Queensland 28-18 in the remote town of Ilfracombe on Saturday evening.

While it was a winning weekend for Taylor it wasn't so good for the Titans in their first game after coach Garth Brennan's sacking.

After charging out to a 12-0 lead against a much-changed Melbourne line-up, the Titans were powerless to stop the table-topping Storm charging to a 38-18 win at Cbus Super Stadium on Sunday.

In the wake of the defeat interim coach Craig Hodges said all positions were up for grabs for Saturday's south-east Queensland derby against Brisbane - Taylor's former club.

Whether the 24-year-old No.7 returns or not to the NRL this weekend, Taylor's return is pleasing news for rugby league great Petero Civoniceva.

"It takes a lot of courage to step away and obviously get some assistance. He did that," Civoniceva told AAP.

"Obviously he's got a huge future in the game and is such an important part of our game ... we just want to make sure that he's in a good spot in life and all we can do is get around him and support him.

"It's great to see him back on the field again."

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