Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook is wary of what former Titan Ash Taylor can do against his NRL team but insists there's no bad blood between him and the halfback.
Taylor will make his debut for the Warriors in Saturday's round-two clash at CBUS Super Stadium, just six months after he was let go by the Titans at the end of the 2021 season.
The 26-year-old's exit ended a six-season spell on the Gold Coast which started with receiving the Dally M rookie of the year gong in 2016 but ended in disappointment after failing to live up to the expectation of his $1million per year contract.
Holbrook says he's delighted Taylor has found a new home at the Warriors, who he joined on a train-and-trial deal before being upgraded to a full-time contract earlier this year.
"We're all as a club happy for Ash to be getting another opportunity," Holbrook said.
"It is tough because we know what he's capable of and that's the danger of him playing his old club.
"Sometimes if someone's there for a long time, they need to change as much as we have to change as well.
"In my time with Ash I couldn't have been happier with him ... I wish him all the best. He's in the opposition side tomorrow so hopefully he plays well the week after and not tomorrow."
Both clubs welcome back key personnel for Saturday's game.
Origin representative AJ Brimson will slot in at five-eighth for the hosts after missing last weekend's loss to Parramatta.
Taylor's inclusion for the Warriors was forced with Shaun Johnson (pectoral) unavailable but Nathan Brown's team also welcome back Reece Walsh and Matt Lodge from suspension.
Last year's clash between the two teams was a fiery affair with Lodge one of three forwards sin-binned the final match of the Warriors' 2021 campaign, before later being fined $5000 by the NRL for giving a one-fingered salute to the Titans' crowd as he left the field.
"I think that's for them (the Warriors) to worry about," Holbrook said when asked if he'd discussed keeping a cool head with his team.
"They were the ones that had no discipline and they lost it. We didn't do anything wrong.
"I can't control how they play and I'm not fussed if they want to play the same way as they did last year.
"Play as hard as you want and as long as it's fair, we're happy with it, our forward pack are fine with it."
