He's hardly slimline but a trimmer Dave Taylor is impressing his Gold Coast teammates during the club's NRL pre-season in a bid to find the consistency to go with his undoubted talent.
Taylor has dropped 5kgs in a bid to retain the impressive form which marked the end of his otherwise disappointing maiden campaign with the Titans.
Two-hour paddleboard sessions and surfing kept the 185cm man-mountain in shape during the break and it's paying off with the giant forward outperforming several teammates at the club's first beep test earlier this month.
Five-eighth Aidan Sezer says Taylor's attitude is a definite plus and he believes the former Queensland State of Origin forward could be priming himself for a huge year.
"Dave's looking in fine nick," Sezer said.
"He's probably the best athlete I've seen physically ... he plays it up a bit but he's definitely in good nick, I'm happy for the big fella.
"He'd be the best player in the game at his best, if he does that week-in, week-out. That's something Dave knows he's got to work on and that's probably what we've all got to work on as a team."
The Titans struggled to find consistency in their 2013 campaign, with injuries constantly depriving coach John Cartwright of the opportunity to field a settled line-up.
Sezer, who only missed two games last year, says the introduction of former North Queensland coach Neil Henry to the club's backroom staff has freshened up their pre-season routine.
"The team as a whole, we're in far better shape than we were last pre-season," he said.
"He's (Henry) just brought a difference obviously. He's a very experienced coach and just his different take on things ... he's fresh and bringing new ideas to the club. All the boys are jumping on board and we're enjoying it."
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