Ash Taylor has said he is "100 per cent willing" to take a pay cut to help the Titans expand the team, per the Courtier Mail.
The Gold Coast Titans halfback, who is currently on a one million dollar contract, is the happiest he's ever been after achieving balance between play on field and his home life.
Taylor has assured the club that if it takes a pay cut for Justin Holbrook to keep him under his wing, he is open to that discussion "100 per cent".
โWhen youโre not playing up to the cap itโs hurting the team,โ he said.
โIf thatโs what it takes to attract new talent then definitely.โ
The conversation has not yet been opened by Titans leadership but Taylor has said he'd be more than happy if it is going to help them grow as a team.
If Taylors pay was to be reduced from $1 million to $700,000, which is currently the highest of any five-eighth in the NRL, this would allow for a new signing to be subsidised by $300,000.
Following a reduced salary, if the deal also came with a contract extension, Taylor would definitely consider it.
โIโd love to be a part of the future (here),โ Taylor said.
โI love the Gold Coast, itโs pretty much home for me now.
โI was a little bit lost last year, which has been well-documented, but Iโm loving the game and building that week-in, week-out competitiveness has really brought me back to life.
โLife away from footy has given me a new life.
โIโm loving every minute with my son, whoโs 8.5 months and starting to crawl and say dad.
โWhen I wake up in the morning heโs there smiling at me.
โIt gives you a new outlook on life.
โIโm loving every minute and when youโre happy off the field youโre happy on, and thatโs reflected on the field.โ
Titans teammate Jarrod Wallace has followed comments explaining that Taylor's commitment to the team has never been in question.
โI think Ashโs biggest thing has been he over-committed to the team,โ Wallace said.
โHeโs always put the team and footy first, instead of his mindset.
โLast year he had to go back to his family and get his mental health right and now itโs showing.
โ(Taylor alongside family, Jamal Fogarty and AJ Brimson) are a fantastic spine to have.
โTheyโre the ones when we need to find something that weโre leaning on.โ
