Embattled giant Dave Taylor has opened up about his desperation for a shot at redemption in next Wednesday night’s State of Origin series decider.
The South Sydney forward is fighting for his Origin survival, after coach Mal Meninga declared Brisbane utility Ben Te’o a genuine contender for a bench role to add some fire and aggression to a Queensland side on the back foot early in games one and two.
“I can’t really describe how badly I want it,” confessed the 124kg Rabbitoh wrecking ball when asked what it would mean to be part of prop Petero Civoniceva’s 33rd and final Origin in front of a massive Suncorp Stadium crowd.
“There’s not too many things in the world I want more than this.”
Taylor’s words are those of a man hurting and desperately wanting to redeem himself for his own peace of mind.
“Just to be able to go out and play a good Origin game and just play for the boys,” he said on Wednesday.
“I just want to go out and work as hard as I can for 80 minutes for them.”
Meninga feels Taylor’s pain and anguish.
He believes the 23-year-old is going through a tough patch which most footballers experience at some stage of their careers.
“I think Dave will come out of it a better player if he handles it the right way,” Meninga told AAP after naming a 20-man roster to cover injury concerns within the Maroons squad.
“He’s still learning the game. He’s still young and he’s still got plenty of maturity in him.
“He’s just going through a little tough period personally and professionally at the moment. He’ll get through it.
“He’s had it fairly easy so far because he’s a big kid who runs really fast and hard and he’s got some skills about him.”
Asked if being blessed with such skills for a big man had been a curse, Taylor smiled and said: “I’m happy to have them …. I wouldn’t give it away.”
He’ll be desperately hoping Meninga feels the same way and doesn’t continue his Origin rollercoaster ride by giving away his prized Maroon jumper on Wednesday night.