How Holbrook saved reborn Taylor from lowest ebb

Ash Taylor credits coach Justin Holbrook for helping him find form and happiness as a rugby league player after experiencing the lowest period of his life last year.

The 25-year-old was man of the match in the 18-6 win over former club Brisbane on Saturday night where he had two line-break assists and ran for 109 metres.

One of his runs from inside the Titans own 10 metre area set up a cracking length of the field try scored by Young Tonumaipea.

It was an accomplished display by Taylor as he took the line on just like he did in 2018 when he was in the mix for Maroons selection.

The talk before the game was about Broncos back-rower David Fifita showing the Titans what they would be getting next year. Instead, Taylor showed Brisbane what they had lost.

Last year there were fears that Taylor could be lost to the NRL after he took time away from the game in a season where he only played 10 games.

This year under new coach Holbrook he has revived his career and is also relishing fatherhood away from the playing arena.

"I am very happy. I had those struggles last year and that was probably the lowest I have been in my life so far," Taylor said.

"I have learned from that and put myself in a better position. I am setting my family up now for the future, after footy, which I am loving more than anything and I just love playing with this group of boys.

"We have been going great the last six or seven weeks and that is on the back of Justo' [Holbrook] really drilling into us everyone knowing their role and executing it."

Holbrook pulled off a masterstroke by bring half Jamal Fogarty into the lineup after the enforced COVID-19 break and has given Taylor clarity about his own role.

"My role has been simplified. In previous years I think I was trying to overdo myself," Taylor said.

"I was trying to take on the whole game myself rather than getting the whole team to help and everyone buying into that.

"Having Jamal there has been great and the boys are really buying into what Justo has put in place."

Taylor's passing and running game is improving by the week and he has taken a leaf out of Roosters star Luke Keary's book by attacking short sides.

"I think my role has to be that. We can't have two chiefs out on the field," Taylor said.

"We need one [half] to take the line on a lot more, especially on short sides. That is something I have been working on.

“[Keary]  is an awesome player and one of the best five-eighths in the competition. He went back-to-back with the Roosters off his running game and off setting up his outside men.

"Tonight, I saw the space myself so I took the line on."

Taylor said his performance against Brisbane was his best game in years.

"There are still areas I need to work on," he said.

"I kicked out on the full and can get us in better positions but I took a step in the right direction."

I am very happy. I had those struggles last year and that was probably the lowest I have been in

Titans five-eighth Ash Taylor

Holbrook was impressed with what he saw.

"Ash played great and did some quality things, running the ball really well," he said.

"He probably went for an 11 out of 10 by overplaying it a bit but at least he is asking plenty of questions, so I am really happy with Ash."

The Titans sang long and loud in their dressing sheds after the game and with good reason after becoming the first side in the club’s history to beat Brisbane twice in the same season.