Championships behind the successful rise of Jada Taylor

Teenage sensation Jada Taylor lit up television screens across Australia last year and even caught the eye of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in the process with her 109-metre solo try. 

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But only weeks earlier Taylor was starring for NSW Country at the Harvey Norman National Championships, a tournament which she says has been the catalyst to a successful past 12 months for the new Sharks recruit.

The Championships, an elite national pathways system for the women's game over the past five years, kicks off again on Thursday with a new three-pool format that will showcase the next generation of stars.

Taylor was the major success story to come out last year's tournament with the former Rooster later making her NRLW debut. She represented NSW Country before being selected for the NSW under 19s side a week later.

"Had I not been given the opportunity to play for Country at the Championships then I wouldn't have been picked for under 19s Origin and that try that everyone talks about would never have happened," Taylor told NRL.com.

"The Country team was my first representative side and it's good for the girls because it's the first taste of being in a professional environment of women's rugby league.

"You're in that camp setting, you're together the whole week and make new friends but more importantly you feel like an athlete.

"I felt like I represented my hometown and sometimes girls in different areas of Australia may not get the same opportunities so this is their chance to show what they can do.

"It's exposure, it gets you seen. I only played one NRLW game but had I not played before that I wouldn't have had enough behind me to push for representative teams."

Taylor will join Cronulla in 2023 as she looks to become a mainstay in the NRLW after a brief taste with the Tricolours. 

She isn't the only graduate from recent National Championships to go on and play in the NRLW.

Jillaroos trio Julia Robinson, Keilee Joseph and Tiana Penitani have all gone on to represent Australia while Otesa Pule played for the Kiwi Ferns last season.

Raiders recruits Jessica Gentle and Monalisa Soliola were also among those who have progressed to higher NRLW honours after impressing at the tournament last year.

Jada Taylor's 12-month success story

• June, 2022: Represents NSW Country under 19s at National Championships
• June, 2022: Scores 109-metre solo try for NSW in under 19s Origin
• July, 2022: Promoted to the Roosters' NRLW squad
• September, 2022: Makes her NRLW debut, scoring a try
• February, 2023: Scores a try on debut for the Indigenous All Stars 
• April, 2023: Signs a two-year contract with Cronulla Sharks

The Harvey Norman Women’s National Championship is proudly supported by Major Events Gold Coast. NRL.com will live stream the event across all four days.