Taylor fresh to face Panthers

After playing 17 consecutive NRL first grade games with the  New Zealand Warriors in his debut National Rugby League (NRL), utility Elijah Taylor was ready for a well-earned break.

Despite impressing coach Ivan Cleary all year, the 20-year-old was left out  last weekend when the Warriors beat Newcastle Knights 20-12 at Mount Smart Stadium, to rest him before the playoffs.

So, after watching his teammates deal to the Knights, Taylor took the  opportunity to visit his family in Kaitaia.

Taylor moved from Taranaki to Herekino, near Kaitaia, as a youngster with his dad, and attended Kaitaia College.

He represented Northland in rugby union through the grades before switching to league while living in the Far North.

Doing his bit as a Northland ambassador to the code, he popped in to watch Rugby League Northland's age-grade finals at Moerewa on Sunday, where he presented the newly established Elijah Taylor Trophy to Kaitaia - who won the 15s final against Marist - as well as the 17s final against Portland.

 Taylor, who has been named on the bench for the Warriors game against Penrith on Saturday, said having the weekend off did him the world of good.

"It was really good to get away and see my dad - and to watch the finals in Moerewa. It's been a long time since they have had age-grade footy up there and it was great Kaitaia won both finals.

"The boys were happy and it was good to see where it all started for me," said Taylor, who played his first game of league at Moerewa's Simpson Park.

It was also a chance for Taylor to catch up with Kaitaia 15s and Northern Swords coach Jim Larkin, whom he played under as a teenager in the Nga Puhi team in the National Maori Tournament.

Taylor said from what he could see, there was plenty of young talent around who should fare well with the Northern Swords 15s and 17s sides in the national competition, beginning on August 28.

"There was heaps of talent there - as always - I think they will go well against the rest of the country if they do the basics well."

While watching his teammates from the sideline on Saturday was hard, Taylor was pleased to be back at training and in the lineup for this weekend's round-24 game against Penrith Panthers.

"Playing 17 games in a row was a bit tough, I won't lie, and having a week off to rest was good for the body ... and good for the team as we head into the back end of the season, even though I really wanted to play the Knights." 

Sitting in sixth place on the NRL table, the Warriors are two  points out from fourth, with three matches remaining. If they win all three, they may go close to securing a home semifinal.

But for now, Taylor, who can play at standoff, centre or lock, said his side were concentrating on one game at a time, treating each with utmost importance, starting with the 11th-placed Panthers.

"The Panthers are a big, physical side, with massive props - including Sam McKendry from Dargaville. Our side has a gained a lot of confidence in the past few weeks - particularly after our game with the Broncos - although we lost, we took a lot out of the game," Taylor said.

Although there were a few disruptions mid-season, with coach Ivan Cleary signing a three-year deal with the  Panthers starting in 2012, Taylor said the Warriors had remained on task.

"Everyone is focused on the job at hand.

"We understand we're in a business, and everybody is looking to upgrade, extend themselves and get the best deal they can - coaches are no different ... it's a great opportunity for Ivan, and I congratulated him in taking up the role."

The former Junior Warriors skipper was loving his first season after making his NRL debut as  NZ Warrior No167 against Cronulla in April. Injury had prevented him from making his debut a year earlier, but he has time on his side.

 

 

Warriors team:   Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou, Joel Moon, Shaun Berrigan, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Shaun Johnson, Russell Packer, Aaron Heremaia, Jacob Lillyman, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering (c), Micheal Luck. IC: Lance Hohaia, Sam Rapira, Ben Matulino, Elijah Taylor, Lewis Brown (18th man).