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Three hundred big ones say Ashley is Broncos’ answer
by Stephen Hagan sh is very humble,” explained proud father Randall Tayor in an exclusive interview with First Nations Telegraph from his home town of Toowoomba yesterday. “I’m very proud of him ... he’s living his dream.” Last week talented Broncos’ Under 20 half back Ashley Taylor, 18, signed a lucrative three-year contract worth $300,000. What makes this contract even more amazing is that Ashley, who signed his first contract at 12, has never played a minute in the top grade of NRL football. To add further weight to Ashley’s value to the Brisbane Broncos is the fact that he will not showcase his enormous potential to their fans this year due to a serious shoulder injury suffered against the New
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Zealand Warriors three weeks ago. “His time aware from the game will allow Ash to put in the hard work required to get his shoulder right for the 2014 season,” Randall said. When asked if reports in the Sunday Mail that Ashley “has work to do on his defence”, Randall said he’s never been concerned about his defence. “He’s a very good defender ... but he’s not kidding himself about the fact he will have to muscle up a bit more when he moves up to the next level of his league career.” Ashley, a proud Mandandanji and Kamilaroi teenager, moved with his family from western Queensland to Toowoomba to further his sporting prospects. “As a family we decided to make sacrifices for our children and left St George to relocate ourselves to a Toowoomba to give them the best
Ashley Taylor in action for Broncos U20. Image Darren England. (Inset) Randall Taylor with his netball representative daughter Kiara. Image Rhonda Hagan
opportunity to realise their sporting potential,” Randall said. Ashley’s young sister Kiara, 13, will represent Austalian Indigenous Schoolgirls’ netball team to compete against non-Indigenous teams from New Zealand and Australia on the Gold Coast next week. Kiara, like her big brother Ashley, who represented in touch football and is a gifted golfer, is also an all-round athlete excelling in touch football and softball. Randall, a former ATSIC Regional Councillor and a recent Masters Degree in Health graduate, said he would encourage all parents “to make the sacrifices for your children ... and never give up on them.” Page 1