Taylor family join celebrations despite divided loyalties

He had just enjoyed the greatest-ever moment of his fledgling career but in doing so had put Hull FC through yet more Challenge Cup final misery.

Being an ex-Hull KR player, that could surely be perceived as a brilliant added bonus yet Taylor’s situation is different; all his family are ardent FC fans. Did his mum have a long face on seeing her jubilant son just minutes after breaking Hull hearts?

“No, she just wants me to do well so she only wants the best for me,” said the 22 year-old.

“I went up to see my mum, dad and the girlfriend.

“They were over the moon for me and can’t believe I’ve won the Challenge Cup.

“I know they’re as happy as I am. To win a Challenge Cup Final at 22 means I can retire happy now. Even if I don’t win anything else for 10 years, I can still retire a happy man.

“I saw one of my Hull FC supporting cousins after the game too and he was as proud as punch for me.

“There’s 12 or 15 others but they had to shoot as they were all on Hull FC coaches!

“But they’ll all text me eventually I’m sure. They’ve all been texting me through the week saying they’d be happy either way and they’re just proud to see someone in our family walk out at Wembley.

“There’s not bitter feelings, it’s been amazing. They came down on the buses and it will be a long journey back but at least they can have a smile on their face knowing someone in their family has won it. It would’ve been far worse if Hull KR had won!”

Not that it was ever needed, but Saturday’s 16-0 victory fully vindicated Taylor’s controversial decision to leave Rovers at the end of last season, turning down the chance to extend his deal there in favour of a six-figure move across the Pennines.

Taylor had come through the Academy ranks at Hull KR, debuting against Leeds Rhinos in the 2009 play-offs and progressing swiftly enough to represent England against the Exiles last July.

He played 50 Super League games before making that switch which, understandably, upset many supporters in east Hull.

“I got a bit of stick from the Hull KR fans when I went back there last but hopefully they’ll be happy with me next time!” he laughed.

“I’ve been getting a lot of Tweets from them all week, saying, ‘Come on, we don’t want to lose our song. It’s all they ever sing about Hull, ‘You’ll never win at Wembley.’ They’ll be over the moon too.”

The 6’ 3” Taylor almost actually scored on Saturday as he made a barrelling run towards the line in the second half only to be denied by three desperate defenders.

“That would’ve been unbelievable to score,” he added.

“I was thinking, ‘I’m going to score at Wembley in front of the Wigan fans!’

“It wasn’t to be but we took the penalty after I received a high tackle so I contributed to two points and I’ll take that.”

Taylor added: “When I was 10 years old (ex-Hull FC captain and current assistant) Lee Radford brought the trophy to an amateur club and I had a photo with it. I never thought I’d win it.

“It’s unbelievable. My dreams have come true haven’t they?” he said.

“I’ve been watching rugby since I was a kid, played rugby since I was five or six years old.

“There’s not much bigger than this is there?

“I had ran it through my mind what it would be like to win and I’d also wondered what it would be like to lose.

“I knew that would hurt a lot more so there was only one option and that was winning. Now I have, I just feel on top of the world.

“It was like I thought it would be and better. It was unreal when that final hooter went.

“If we’d lost I think I would’ve just stayed in my hotel room on my own drowning my sorrows then picked myself up. But luckily that’s not the case.”