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IT APPEARS to be the ultimate payback. Jason Taylor is sacked by South Sydney. Goes to their arch rivals, the Sydney Roosters. Even offers his services gratis. Sweet revenge is payment enough.

''Nothing could be further from the truth,'' the 38-year-old Taylor told The Sun-Herald.

''The notion that I've gone to the Roosters and said, 'Give me a job for nothing' because they are the arch rivals of the Rabbitohs - that's ridiculous.

''I was keen to remain involved in the game in some way, shape or form.

''I had absolutely nothing happening and through my relationship with [Roosters coach] Brian Smith there was an opportunity there to do some kicking stuff.

''That fact it's at the Roosters is pure coincidence.

''To say that I'm that desperate for a coaching job, that's way off the mark.''

Taylor's contacts at Bondi Junction go back to his playing days at Western Suburbs, where he first linked with current Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce. The former halfback was coached by Smith at Parramatta, the club where he first picked up a clipboard.

That coaching career came to an abrupt halt when he was sacked by the Rabbitohs after he was knocked out by Kiwi international David Fa'alogo at the club's infamous Sad Sunday celebrations.

The experience has left Taylor questioning whether he wants to return to a full-time coaching gig in the NRL.

''At the moment, I don't know if getting back into it in a big way is something I actually want to do in the long run,'' he said.

''This is just a way of coming out the other side of the whole debacle.

''I definitely didn't want to be doing nothing and this is a way for me to keep a link.

''You need the desire, drive and passion to do that job on a full-time basis. Even as an assistant coach it takes a lot of time and effort.

''Right now, after what's happened, that hunger has disappeared a bit.

''I think it's a matter of giving myself a bit of time to see if it reappears.''