Wests Tigers forward Elijah Taylor is hoping an impressive NRL season will be enough for him to make the Kiwis squad for this year's Rugby League World Cup.
Taylor last played for the Kiwis during the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and admitted it's been hard not being picked to represent his country.
"I was gutted to miss out last year but I've been training hard off the field and on the field I've tried to become a better player," Taylor told Newshub.
"I spoke to [David Kidwell] during the Kiwis training camp and he's given me some things to work on and I have been working on those during the offseason."
It's been a tough few years for Taylor. After leaving the Warriors at the end of 2013, Taylor suffered an ACL injury during his first year with the Penrith Panthers and struggled with confidence when he returned from injury the following year.
In 2016, Taylor was dropped to the Panthers New South Wales Cup squad in favour of rookie Kiwis prop James Fisher-Harris. That saw the 26-year-old shipped off to the Tigers during the season.
Taylor is captaining the Tigers 18-man squad for this weekend's Auckland Nines and is honoured that he was selected to lead the team during the two-day tournament.
"I was voted in by the players so it means a lot.
"You get the respect from your peers and the players round you. That is what I always want, the players respect."
The Tigers are a part of the Rangitoto pool along with the Melbourne Storm, Newcastle Knights and one of the tournament favourites, Brisbane Broncos.
Taylor believes the Nines are a great way for clubs to showcase their younger talent.
"We are looking forward to it as a club, and it’s a good opportunity for our younger guys. The boys have been training hard for it."
Newshub.
