South Sydney backrower David Taylor. Photo / Getty Images
Helpless - it's not exactly the first word that comes to mind when thinking of giant South Sydney backrower David Taylor.
But the 120kg, 187cm human wrecking ball admits that is how he felt as he sat on the Queensland bench for State of Origin I.
At first, Taylor thought
it was a compliment to be named 18th man for Queensland, chuffed in the knowledge he was in the Maroons mix.
However, the buzz from being involved in an Origin camp quickly wore off as he sat among the playing side at Suncorp Stadium on May 25.
Not being able to play tore him inside as NSW came back from the dead to lead 12-10, only for Queensland to launch yet another comeback and ice the match 16-12. Taylor was elated with the win - but he never wanted to be in that position again.
" The bad bit was sitting on the bench watching the boys play - I felt a bit helpless," Taylor said.
"I knew then I had to go away and do everything right to try and get back into the side."
Yet Taylor, 22, had known for some time what he had to do to get back into the Queensland side that he had helped sweep the 2010 series.
He had been criticised for a relative lack of involvement for Souths - most notably by ex-Queensland great and current Rabbitohs assistant coach Gorden Tallis.
Taylor said a few choice words from Queensland coach Mal Meninga also helped him focus after game one.
Two NRL blinders later and Taylor found himself replacing Jacob Lillyman on the Maroons bench for Wednesday's Origin II in Sydney.
- AAP
