Ash Taylor is on the verge of taking up a one-year deal with the Warriors after being cut loose by the Gold Coast Titans last week, with the move expected to deliver him a mighty $750,000 pay cut.
The out of sorts Broncos junior will be accepting a short-burst contract with the Warriors, with his new pay packet ringing in at around $750,000 less than his last Gold Coast Titans deal.
The million-dollar man has been tabled a $240k offer from the Warriors.
The Sporting Base understands the deal is for one season only, with the New Zealand squad happy to play him in the halves while they are still based in Redcliffe in 2022. The club will then re-evaluate their options as they relocate to Auckland again in 2023. Taylor is expected to accept the drastic haircut, with those in his camp well aware this may be his last chance to prove himself in the NRL again before he begins looking for a move abroad.
The Warriors already have Shaun O’Sullivan, Chanel Harris Tevita, and Kodi Nikorima on the books, with Shaun Johnson returning to the Auckland club after a spell at the Sharks too.
Cameron George, the Warriors CEO, told Stuff.co.nz they had indeed met up with Ash, and were considering making a move to replace one of the halves currently on their books.
“We met with Ash. We’re here on the Gold Coast and he’s here and is looking for options for next year and we’re looking for options as well to build our depth,” George said.
“We decided to sit down to have a chat with him and it was good to have a chat and get to know him, he’s a good kid. We haven’t signed Sean O’Sullivan and we’re looking for the best option for our footy club.
“Ash hasn’t signed for anywhere next year. He’s a kid that’s got talent and we wanted to sit down and have a chat with him, understand where he’s at.
“Paul Turner has gone, Sean is going,” the club CEO continued, “and we’ve got Chanel who’s a big part of our future and we’ve also got Shaun Johnson, but it’s about building some depth as well.”
