Gold Coast rookie Ashley Taylor can't wait to show his old club what he's made of when the Titans face Brisbane in Friday's NRL elimination final.
The 21-year-old, who is reportedly poised to sign a new deal with the Titans following his breakout 2016 season, will face his old club in his first finals appearance.
Rather than be daunted by the prospect of facing the Broncos in front of a capacity Suncorp Stadium crowd, Taylor says the chance to test himself against the very best in the game is what being a first grade footballer is all about.
"That's the ultimate goal and achieving it early on in my career is just a massive achievement for myself," he said.
"I'm just looking forward to getting out there with the team and putting in a great performance."
Taylor's first full season in the NRL has been eye-catching with no less than superstar Johnathan Thurston ear-marking him as a future State of Origin player last week.
Granted an early release from his contract with the Broncos to join the Titans, Taylor was handed an opportunity by Kane Elgey's season-ending knee injury in pre-season.
In 21 matches Taylor has consistently impressed with his cool head, clever kicking game and even scored a match-winning field goal against South Sydney in Perth midway through the year.
Rumours of a return to Brisbane are expected to be quashed by a reported new deal with the Titans until the end of the 2019 season.
Taylor does have praise for the Broncos and coach Wayne Bennett for giving him the opportunity to move to the Titans.
"He's a great bloke for obviously letting me go," Taylor said of the seven-time premiership winner.
"He's given me the opportunity and he started my career down here for me.
"I'm just looking forward to getting out there in Titans colours and sticking it to them at their home ground."
