Former NSW forward and popular rugby league identity John Barber would have loved watching rampaging Brisbane prop Dave Taylor destroy NRL defences as he has in recent weeks.

A first grade player for Newcastle at 18 - who also lined up against the legendry Arthur Beetson in the early 1970s - Barber predicted big things from young Taylor this year several months ago.

Sadly he died from cancer last month, just as his confident prediction began to ring true.

A successful coach with Redcliffe during the no-holds-barred days of the Queensland Cup, Barber urged Brisbane to give Taylor a licence in attack and time to improve his defence.

"I think they're sitting on something special and I think they know it," Barber told AAP in an interview in January.

"With his size and skill he can put the fear of god into the edge defence.

"Beetson was a big man with a bit of footwork who could unload under pressure.

"Dave has the potential to be as good," added Barber, qualified to make such bold claims having coached Origin and Test players Wally Fullerton-Smith, Trevor Gillmeister, Bryan Niebling, Steve Walters and Paul Khan.

Another old-school prop, Greg Dowling, believes Taylor is in the form and mood to wreak havoc on former coach Wayne Bennett's Dragons on Friday and make Brisbane regret letting him go next season.

Taylor's recent explosive form against Cronulla and again last week when he ripped Penrith to shreds out wide have been a key part of Brisbane's forwards regaining some credibility after losing their way badly during the State of Origin series.

"He's got all the attributes. He's big, fast and damaging. He's going to turn out to be a beauty," Dowling told AAP on Wednesday.

The South Sydney-bound Taylor has finally been given a roving commission by coach Ivan Henjak, just as Barber urged.

He finished last weekend's game against Penrith in the centres, displaying amazing skill for a big man to set up Ben Te'o's second try.

Taylor scooped up a loose ball, sprinted down the touch line and then delivered a Lockyer-like inside pass to his teammate.

"He's got all the attributes. He's big, fast, powerful. He's going to turn out to be a beauty," said Dowling."

Never one to take a backward step, whether playing for Wynnum Manly, Brisbane, Queensland or Australia during his fiery career through the rugged 1980s, Dowling said the Brisbane's pack had to follow Canberra's lead and rip into the battered and bruised Dragons forwards and get right up in their faces on Friday night in Wollongong.

"Canberra showed them (Brisbane) how to do it, getting up in their faces, whacking them hard," said Dowling.

"They were down 12-0 at half time and not in the game.

"All of sudden they fired up with some head clashes, shoulder chargers and they really fired up.

"They (Brisbane) have definitely got the pack to do it with Nick Kenny back and their back-rowers stepping up."

Brisbane meanwhile have injury concerns over halfback Peter Wallace (hamstring), Taylor (cork thigh) and young centre Alex Glenn who all face fitness tests on Thursday.

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