Cronulla Sharks youngster Jada Taylor has declared she has found her voice as she looks to develop into one of the NRLW's elite fullbacks.
The 20-year-old became a viral sensation when she scored a stunning 109-metre try for NSW in the 2022 Under-19 State of Origin match.
An NRLW debut followed for the Roosters later that year before she moved to Cronulla and wore the No.1 jumper in the club's inaugural campaign last season.
Looking back, Taylor admits it was a lot to handle but she's confident she's learnt how to thrive under pressure ahead of Saturday's season-opener against the Cowboys.
Jada Taylor clocks 109m for a special Origin try
"Playing a position like fullback you've got to be very vocal," Taylor told NRL.com. "That's made it easy for me to make my mark on the team because I have to be yelling and screaming all the time.
"We've really made a point in this team to not have those levels, everyone is on the same page. [Captain Tiana Penitani] is a great leader and she really emphasises that our young girls have just as much of a voice as the older girls.
"That's really special and gives me more confidence, sometimes a bit too much, but it's good to have."
Match: Sharks v Cowboys
Round 1 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Cowboys
Venue: PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Taylor's primary focus throughout a long off-season has been on preparing her body for the rigours of elite rugby league in a rapidly evolving competition.
The youngster underwent a shoulder reconstruction and had a clean out of her ankle in two separate operations after missing the end of last year's campaign.
Since then, she has worked hard to develop physically while adopting a more-rounded skillset.
Cronulla coach Tony Herman has walked with Taylor every step of the way, mentoring the youngster through the hard times and sharing success through the good times.
The coach has watched as the youngster has grown into her role at the Sharks and is confident a mature and comfortable player will be on display this season.
"She's maturing and she's only young," Herman told NRL.com. "People forget that. They don't realise she's just come out of Tarsha Gale. She's known for that big try but there's so much more to her game and she's starting to learn that.
"She's starting to understand it's not just about her running game. She needs to be creative as well, she needs to be on the ball a little bit more and defensively she's working hard on her defence, in our system as well as her initial contact.
"As she gets older and starts to mature, she'll play her best footy and that's probably yet to come but we'll see a decent year out of her."
Jada Taylor is all that
While her fame has risen since that stunning 2022 try, Taylor has managed to find balance off the field throughout the past year.
The fullback is now working as the Sharks' Indigenous Programs coordinator, visiting schools and delivering an important message about making healthy choices to First Nations youngsters.
It's a cause close to Taylor's heart and helps her recognise how fortunate she is to be playing football at the highest level.
"It's so special to go in there and preach about healthy lifestyles," she said. "I love that I'm inspiring the next generation and wearing the Sharks logo while doing it.
"Regardless of if I played football or not, I'd want to be in community in some aspect. It's what I'm passionate about. When you're happy off the field it translates to playing better footy and gives me more to play for."
Jada Taylor is all speed
While she has learnt plenty over the past two seasons, Taylor is ready to take the next step forward.
The fullback knows it is no longer enough to simply be the next big thing, she wants to make sure she is the big thing and deliver on her potential.
It may not happen this year, but Taylor is determined to take another leap forward as the Sharks chase a semi-finals berth in their second NRLW campaign.
"Tony's taught me a lot on and off the field," Taylor said. "How to read the game better, not to go missing in moments and it's something I'm still working on. I have to remind myself sometimes I'm only 20 but I'm really excited to stay on the field a bit longer this year.
"Football is a game of little moments and sometimes if you miss too many of those moments you don't win the game. I've been working on trying to identify those moments and be brave enough to take them."
