At one stage Albert Kelly was on the NRL scrapheap.
Now he has been tipped by Gold Coast teammate David Taylor to follow in South Sydney sensation Adam Reynolds’ footsteps and become 2013’s breakout halfback.
Taylor watched in awe at South Sydney this season as Reynolds burst onto the scene to guide the Rabbitohs to the preliminary final, collecting Dally M Rookie of the Year honours along the way.
Now settled at the Titans, Taylor is feeling a sense of deja vu as the once troubled Kelly fights to snap up the No.7 jersey left behind by surprise Brisbane Broncos signing Scott Prince.
Axed by two NRL clubs for off-field issues, Kelly, 21, is savouring the lifeline thrown by the Titans as he vies with fellow young guns Jordan Rankin, Beau Henry and Marmin Barba – younger brother of Ben – for the right to partner Aidan Sezer in the halves next season.
Prince’s presence would have been a selling point when Taylor put pen to paper on his Titans contract but he reckons he didn’t baulk when told of the ex-Test half’s departure to Brisbane.
“It got me more excited about seeing the young halves stand up and prove themselves here,” Taylor said.
“Look at Adam Reynolds … everyone was asking questions about him and look how good he went.
“With a young halves partnership they won’t have that fear when there is an older person who can dominate the game by their side – they can take control themselves.”
Asked who at the Titans could become the next breakout half like Reynolds and Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans the year before, Taylor said: “I really like the way Alby has been training – he has been going really well.
“He’s really talented.
“If he can get everything right and keep training the way he is and be injury free, I like it (his chances).”
But Taylor agreed that their impressive forward pack including Luke Bailey, Nate Myles, Ashley Harrison and Greg Bird would have to step up in Prince’s absence.
“We have such an experienced forward pack. They are natural leaders and will stand up no matter what game we are playing,” he said.
“Personally I want to learn from guys Ash, Nate and all the other older fellas there.”
Meanwhile, the Titans unveiled their new-look strip on Friday – the first time since 2010 that they had dabbled with their jersey design.
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Dave Taylor's opinion is always interesting.... Did they ask Tommy Radonikous, Benny Elias, Wally Lewis or Greg Dowling for thier mind numbingly painful and unimportant opinions as well? Because that would have made for some outstanding reading!!
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Daley Cherry Evans, obviously hes not in the same class as those others but i beilieve he has those credentials and will one day be one of the greats if he can find his 2011 form.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Pot I give up, who is Evans?
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Steve They have a kid called Kurt Mann who could be anything and Brett Finch as back up, not too mention their U20s 7 hampton. Kelly is not an organiser like Cronk.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
There are thousands of kids running around in junior football with amazing talent. The halves position requires alot more than talent at NRL level imo. David peachy wasnt the only one from his family blessed with amazing talent but it was only him who could make it. Remeber ewan mckenzie, and the dogs tried Barba in the halves aswell before realising that wasnt his strength. Halves need to be natural leaders/organisers and that is why they use to refer to them as the Generals of a team in the old days. Think Thurston,Lockyer,Daley,Cronk,Evans, Fitler,Johns,
Steve Merry
Guest
Internationals who are 1. ageing 2. like everyone subject to injury 3, missing due to or exhausted by Origin & Internationals Kelly could have been developed into a good back up man and ultimately taking over when / if his skills became better than those internationals. Tempus Fugit Scott.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Let us not forget that Ricky Stuart almost ruined the career of Albert Kelly when he threw him to the wollfs as a raw teenager in the difficult position of fullback when at the Sharks. Needless to say, he had a shocker and the kid went into a shell after that and got himself into trouble. Steve Merry is correct that he would have been nurtured more professionally under Bellamy. My view about Albert is that in order for him to do well at the Titans, his 6 Aidan Sezer and his 9 Matt Srama must step up a notch and run the team like prince did. This is not a skill that we have seen from Albert Kelly. He is an individualist, with good speed. The Titans have a big line up for the prized 7 jumper inluding Matt Beddow, Kane Elgey Jamie Dowling, Jordan Rankin, Beau Henry and Marmin Barba. Kelly will get first shot as he has been the best trainer, but I am still wondering how they let Prince, a genuine organiser, walk up the Highway to the Broncos.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Steve The Storm have international in all 4 spine positions. Who would you expect he would replace?
Adrien
Guest
isn't this kid a bit overrated ? i watched him when he played for the sharks and to be honest i didn't notice the "great talented" player people are talking about.
Steve Merry
Guest
I still reckon that Albert should have gone to the Storm when he had the chance. He would have been a superstar by now.
Robert
Guest
These are the opinion of one the greatest minds in not just league but in every field on earth,D.Taylor -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Don Marl
Guest
I agree with that and I am very pleased that the kid has now sorted himself out. If he can get a break-out season in 2013 then that will be awesome. That said, I do believe that Cronulla were responsible for a lot of this kids problems, they failed to provide him with the sort of structure and support that this kid needed. He mixed with other players who were just a bunch of party animals and instead of providing the kid with life experience advice they simply thought that his problems were a laugh. Albert in is now in a good club that will help him develop. They will provide the support he needs and if he works hard then I am sure that the kid will finally realise his real potential. I am just sorry that he had to learn the hard way.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The kid has natural talent and is a gifted athlete,more so IMO than Reynolds. Trouble was he had offfield issues,which became a constant distraction for his club and teammates.You are either in the club prepared to commit,or you are shown the highway. He is now in the last chance saloon and that does not mean the Gold Coast saloons.For his sake I hope he makes a good show of it.