Dave Taylor has signed with Intrust Super Cup team CQ Capras and his schoolboy mentor Terry Hansen has urged him to make the most of what may be his last chance to get his life and career on track.
The 29-year-old flew to his home town of Rockhampton to be with his parents last week after parting ways with the Toronto Wolfpack having broken curfew twice while in camp in Portugal, just a fortnight into a $1 million-plus contract.
His manager Col Davis had fielded interest from other Intrust Super Cup clubs while there were also preliminary enquiries from one NRL club, but the best thing for Taylor was always going to be to be close to his parents in an environment where he has people he can trust and with his best interests at heart to guide him.
As reported earlier by NRL.com, the Ipswich Jets had offered Taylor a lifeline but talks with the Rockhampton-based Capras, where he trained for six weeks prior to Christmas, ramped up in the past week.
Taylor is one of many NRL players to come through St Brendan’s College in Yeppoon under head coach Terry Hansen, who urged his former pupil to make this last chance in the last chance saloon count.
“Dave deserves another chance, but this time he has to give himself a chance,” Hansen told NRL.com.
“It all depends what he does with this opportunity. He is only 29 and has another four or five years left in him, if he gets fit and gets fair dinkum.
“I just want to see him do his very best and get himself another crack at an NRL contract and finish his career on the right note.
“Dave has been easily led in the past and now he needs to stay out of trouble, but [living back at home] could be his way back because the one person who can have a big influence on his life is his mother.
Taylor is at a crossroads in his life after 181 games with the Brisbane Broncos, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Gold Coast Titans and Canberra Raiders in the NRL, and a stint with Catalans in the Super League.
He is also in the process of sourcing full-time employment with an eye to his post-playing future.
"Obviously it's huge for the whole region to have Dave back in town and representing the region he grew up in and the area he went to school in as well," CQ Capras coach Kim Williams said.
"He trained with us just before Christmas in preparation for the season ahead and as things have turned out he's ended up back here and obviously we're welcoming him with open arms.
"It's a massive coup for our club to have a player of his quality on board and I think with our squad we'll see some huge benefits."
Photo: Dave Taylor in action for the Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Intrust Super Cup in 2015 when signed for the Gold Coast Titans. SMP Images
