I counter BDB with Steve Renouf..
Target Taylor at all costs
By Joel GouldFebruary 18, 2017
IT will mean waiting an extra year but Broncos great Steve Renouf insists Titans half Ash Taylor should be the club’s prime target to replace Ben Hunt.
Renouf believes the 21-year-old former Bronco, signed to the Titans until the end of 2018, is the perfect partner for Anthony Milford and that the duo could emulate the deeds of Kevin Walters and Allan Langer.
The Broncos won’t rush into replacing Hunt and are prepared to have a short-term half in 2018 if required.
RLW understands the following about Brisbane’s plans:
The Broncos will seek the “right man” and are prepared to wait to get him rather than sign the best “available man” in 2018.
Off-contract Tigers halves Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks aren’t on the club’s radar and neither is Warriors half Shaun Johnson. Kieran Foran, while highly regarded, is a “question mark” until he returns to the game.
Titans duo Taylor and Kane Elgey are off contract at the end of 2018 and are considered prime targets, as is Panthers teenager Nathan Cleary, who’s off at the end of 2019.
Michael Morgan is also in the picture but the Broncos believe he won’t leave North Queensland.
The Broncos are preparing a long-term deal for off-contract Milford and he’s certain to sign.
Renouf told RLW five years ago that he believed a then 16-year-old Taylor was the man to succeed Darren Lockyer.
“Bring Ash back to the Broncos and going forward he and Milford can be the next Walters and Langer at club, state and national level,” Renouf reckons.
“Alf was the off-the-cuff player and nine times out of 10 Kevvie was our organiser. I see Ash as a genuine organiser and then he can let Milford do what only he can do . . .
“Ben Hunt is an off-the-cuff player as well in many ways, so he and Milford are the same. But Ash will complement Milford because he is a pure halfback who organises and creates. He learned his trade there.
“I was disappointed when Ash was let go [at the end of 2015], but it was a good thing for him in the end because he proved to everyone he’s the real deal. But I’d love to see him back at the Broncos.”
Broncos CEO Paul White has flagged going to the market to replace Hunt but hasn’t ruled out the possibility his replacement “could come from within”.
“We’re a development club. We’re always confident that our program will be able to develop the majority of talent that fills our roster,” White says.
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