Ashley Taylor used to make his ex-Brisbane teammates look silly at training, so it's no wonder they're on high alert to ensure he doesn't do it in Gold Coast colours on Friday night.
Taylor will play against the Broncos for the first time in the all-Queensland NRL derby at Cbus Super Stadium as a major cog in an in-form Titans side that has confounded critics to win three of their four opening games.
Stuck behind emerging superstars Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt at Red Hill despite his undoubted promise, Taylor was permitted to leave the club and join Gold Coast, where he has been handed the chance to establish himself as a regular top-grader, with the blessing of coach Wayne Bennett and his old teammates.
"Ash always had the talent," Broncos prop Josh McGuire said.
"He was pretty unlucky he got stuck here behind Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt.
"Wayne obviously recognised how good of a player he was and gave him the opportunity to go down there and he's taken it with both hands, he's playing some great football.
"He's very quick - he made us look silly here during training when he was training against us.
"He's a very classy player but it's his skill and his speed that's his main asset."
Milford said he didn't think Taylor would feel as if he has a point to prove against the club where he failed to break through and the players who kept him out of the team.
"But then again, against your old club you want to be at your best and play the best he can," Milford said.
"I think he's doing really well, especially the back end of the half last week. I think he did a real good job with (Tyrone) Roberts not playing, closing out the game. One of his strengths is his running game and that's one thing we need to stop this weekend.
