Aquis Titans 2016 recruit Zeb Taia is one of only two former NRL players to have been selected in the Super League Dream Team, the equivalent to the NRL’s Dally M medal in each position.
The Super League Dream Team is selected by a panel of the sport’s broadcasters and journalists in a secret ballot and represents the form team of the Super League season.
It was a fitting way for Taia to celebrate the end of his three-season stint with Catalans Dragons, the club that will boast Titans’ Dave Taylor in 2016, along with recruits from the NRL Glenn Stewart, Pat Richards and Justin Horo.
Taia (fourth from left in photograph), who missed the last two games of the season because of an ankle injury, was also the Dragons’ player of the year in 2014.
The only other Australian player to make this year’s Dream Team was Taia’s former Newcastle Knights teammate Adam Cuthbertson.
Taia’s form in France has been outstanding, reaping him 77 appearances and 36 tries in his three seasons, the last two of which saw the Dragons in the finals.
He has fought back strongly since missing most of the 2011 season with a neck injury, the season after making his Test debut for New Zealand.
After 21 games for the Knights in 2012 he left for Perpignan but returns to the NRL richer for the experience and keen to provide an impetus for the Titans.
The 2015 Dream Team is:
FULLBACK: Zak Hardaker (Leeds Rhinos)
WINGERS: Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants), Joe Burgess (Wigan Warriors)
CENTRES: Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos), Michael Shenton (Castleford)
FIVE-EIGHTH: Danny Brough (Huddersfield Giants)
HALFBACK: Luke Gale (Castleford Tigers)
PROPS: Alex Walmsley (St Helens), Jamie Peacock (Leeds Rhinos)
HOOKER: James Roby (St Helens)
SECOND-ROWERS: Zeb Taia (Catalans Dragons), Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors)
LOCK: Adam Cuthbertson (Leeds Rhinos)
