By Liam Cook

Tayler Adams has endured a fair share of adversity throughout his career. Now, the New Zealand born flyhalf is leading Brothers to early season success in his first season at Crosby Park.

“It’s been a really good fit me for me so far,” Adams told Rugby News.

“Being embraced by the team and the club has been really good for me.”

Adams’ rugby journey began after a successful final season at Kelston Boys’ High School in Auckland.

That season opened numerous opportunities for Adams to play all over the world in elite competitions.

“I went from living in a big city in Auckland down to the smaller and slower Invercargill and played three years of Mitre 10 Cup at Southland Stags,” he said.

“I was lucky enough to be part of the New Zealand under 20s and went away to the Junior World Cup.

“I then got the opportunity to come over to Sydney and play in the NRC and the Shute Shield with West Harbour. In my second year there I was lucky enough to have a pretty good season and ended up getting signed down to the Melbourne Rebels for the season which was really cool.”

Multiple ankle injuries and surgeries struck down the playmaker soon after his experience with the Rebels in Super Rugby.

After getting back on his feet, the New Zealand product enjoyed a successful season for Eastwood in the Shute Shield that opened the door to a COVID-19 plagued opportunity with the Toronto Arrows in Major League Rugby.

“After that I’d been away from home for nearly two years and came back to New Zealand,” Adams said.

“I was looking to get back into some club rugby and start rebuilding to maybe get another chance at Super Rugby or something overseas.

“I was having a little look at Brisbane clubs and I managed to know a couple of people around Brothers and it seemed like the right fit so before you know it I signed a contract and came to play for Brothers.”

Adams has felt right at home since his arrival at the Brethren in season 2022.

Despite being away from home again, the flyhalf says that the club’s strong culture has made it an easy transition for him.

“One of things I was most surprised at when I first came over was the culture of the club and how close all the boys are from Prem Grade through colts and juniors.”

“The club has some really good programs and everyone is in their Brothers’ kit from the juniors, the touchies and the girls.

“Brothers’ have accommodated me really well and helped me outside of rugby with networks and working at F45.”

The playmaker says his inclusion in the Brother’s side has been made easier by the freedom the coaches have extended him.

“They’ve been really supportive and let me come in, keep my personality and play the way I love to play with energy and confidence.”

Adams’ says the team has been pleased with their early season victories are but there is plenty of room for improvement.

“There are times when we’ve showed how dominant we can be as a team and when we are on, we are really on, so we just need to add minutes to that each week and round out a full game,” he said.

“We can’t complain with winning but we have some high expectations of ourselves. We know what we can achieve and how we want to play.

“Over these next few weeks if we can try and be more mature in how we approach the game and try and stay more consistent that will put us in good stead coming into the back end of the season.”

Brother’s flyhalf has shown his attacking prowess in his side’s four victories for the season.

Growing up in New Zealand, Adams had no shortage of rugby idols to base his game off.

“Growing up back home Carlos Spencer was first and then Dan Carter. I think both of them in different ways had an all-round game.”

“Even little Benji Marshall in league was a big influence. I played a lot of touch growing up so to see how he played league and expressed himself was a big part of shaping how I see the game and how I like to play it.”

The exuberant No.10 has learnt pieces of his attacking game from some of the best in the world throughout his career.

“Will Genia down in Melbourne was probably one of the best top tier players I’ve met in terms of how humble he was.”

“Getting to see how he trained, played, and acted off the field and how he would treat lesser-known teammates like myself.

“He’s another one I looked up to when I was in the Super Rugby environment.”

In 2022, Adams has formed a similarly enjoyable halves partnership with Mosiah Christian.

The two knew Brother’s recruits have gelled beautifully on and off the field in their first season together.

“It’s nearly a little cliché that the nine and ten are the loudest or cheekiest on the field but me and Mosiah Christian are getting along really good. Mosiah and I get along quite well and are probably the closest out of all the boys.

“His style of play is similar to mine with an attack focus and keeping the game up tempo and at high speed.

“It’s always hard coming into a new team and it probably made it a little easier that it was his first year the club as well so we’ve stuck by each other which has helped our connection on the field.”

In a career that has seen him travel far and wide, Tayler Adams is hoping Brother’s will be the club that brings the ultimate success.