DAVE Taylor has revealed why he chose to walk away from a NRL career and settle down in Central Queensland as the Capras’ newest star.

After letting a lucrative deal with Toronto slip through his fingers, Taylor signed with the Queensland Cup side for 2018 on a two-year contract.

Following a surprisingly productive campaign with Canberra last season, Taylor inked a three-year deal with the Wolfpack as they continued their push for Super League promotion.

media_camera Taylor played some good footy for Canberra last year.

However the enigmatic former Test and Origin representative was released from his contract along with fellow marquee forwards Fuifui Moi Moi and Ryan Bailey for twice breaking curfew during a pre-season camp in Portugal.

Taylor said the “pressure” at the game’s elite level had led to him walking away, despite NRL clubs showing interest in signing him for the coming season.

“A couple of NRL sides were interested but I was pretty happy to just come home ... I never listened to them,” the 29 year old said.

“I’ve had a pretty full on career over the last 12 years and I’m looking to settle down.

“There’s so much pressure on players, when I went back to NRL there was a lot of pressure on me to perform at the highest level.

“I’m coming back here and enjoying my football and will just let the football do the talking and not force the good football out, which will be the best thing for me this year.”

Taylor, who has also had stints with the Broncos, Rabbitohs, Titans and Catalans Dragons, said he hoped to inspire others just as he was by players like Petero Civoniceva and Shane Webke.

“With the experience that I’ve got, I could probably rub off on the younger fellas and show them what to do around the training park,” Taylor said.

“In NRL, you’re around each other a lot more so you become sort of colleagues, whereas here, you’re more sort of mates.”

media_camera Dave Taylor previously played with the Central Queensland Capras 10 years ago.

Despite Taylor’s choice to step away from the NRL, he said the possibility was still there for a potential return. The Capras are affiliated with the Titans.

“We spoke and in six months time if I’m playing good footy and enjoying myself, they’ve given me opportunity that if an NRL club comes along, these guys are happy to release me,” Taylor said.

“At the moment, I’m not really that keen to go back into it, but in six months down the track I might be fighting for an opportunity to play for the NRL again.”

As part of his two-year deal with the Capras, Taylor has been in negotiations with the CQ club to travel to Brisbane regularly and see his children.

“They’ve gone above and beyond to make this deal happen and I’m very thankful for the opportunity to be here in my home town.

“I’d like to finish my days out here and then move on to the next chapter of my life.”

Originally published as Taylor: Why I needed to leave the NRL