Rugbyleaguelive.com | 17/09/09 | 0

He looks like a 115kg battering ram and was pigeon-holed as the next Shane Webke.

But appearances can deceive, and the failure of the Brisbane coaching staff to see Dave Taylor as a wide-running centre or back-rower rather than as a prop forward could have prompted the young gun’s exit to Souths Sydney in 2010.

That’s one explanation for possibly the biggest signing for the upcoming season, with the Rabbitohs swooping on a 21-year-old wrecking ball who appears destined for rep honours in the next few years.

Taylor is one of the form players of the NRL finals after a superb display against the Titans last week: scoring a try, setting up another and leading the Broncos’ pack with 140 running metres, six tackle-breaks and 31 tackles after being let loose on the left edge.

He is the latest star prop to leave the Broncos, following the exit of Queensland stars Ben Hannant and Petero Civoniceva in recent years.

One reason behind Taylor’s switch to Souths is obvious – the Rabbitohs came up with a bumper offer that couldn’t be matched by a Broncos squad that already boasted high-earning stars like Darren Lockyer, Justin Hodges and Israel Folau.

But Taylor’s father Logan has also put some of the blame on ex-Broncos coach Wayne Bennett and his successor Ivan Henjak, who he said failed to realise the player’s potential when moved to the fringes.

The towering Taylor struggled to hold down a regular place in the Broncos’ lineup earlier this season, only hitting top form in first grade after signing on with the Rabbitohs.

“I thought they were trying to change him to become the next Shane Webcke,’’ Logan Taylor told News Ltd.

“But just because he was so big, didn’t mean Dave was that style of footballer.

“Whenever they used him as a battering ram he was no good. His way to get through was using his step.

“A couple of times we met Wayne Bennett and he had visions of Dave being one of the next great front-rowers to come through at the Broncos.

“He kept going up and down and couldn’t get a regular game [in first grade].

“He had to change, but now he’s back to what he does best, he’s really enjoying his football.’’

Bennett has denied he ever described Taylor as “the next Shane Webke”, but concedes he never saw the youngster as a centre.

But Broncos assistant coach Peter Ryan argues Taylor’s rise in form has more to do with getting the decision on his future out of the way.

“I think the pressure valve was released when he signed with Souths,” Ryan told Big League.

“The poor fella had a lot of pressure on him in regards to what he was doing – his weight, and trying to be in first grade.

“Once he signed his deal to go to Souths it was like, ‘Well I can just play footy now’. That was a big part of it. He knew what direction his life was taking.

“He’s got a young girlfriend and baby, so it gave him some stability in his life.”

Brisbane’s loss is South Sydney’s gain, but for now Taylor would love nothing more than to leave the Broncos with a premiership.

“We certainly would have loved to have kept him given his current form, that’s for sure,” Ryan said. “He’d like to go out on a good note... he’s certainly put himself in a strong position now.”

Whenever they used him as a battering ram he was no good. He had to change, but now he’s back to what he does best. Dave Taylor's father Logan