Taylor time: Jada's return right on cue for Sharks

It may have come two months later than Jada Taylor had initially planned, but the livewire fullback's long-awaited NRLW return might have landed at the perfect time for Cronulla's run to the finals.

After a full calendar year on the sidelines with a knee injury, Taylor enjoyed a productive comeback on Sunday to help the Sharks down the Warriors 22-14, with that victory putting them two wins clear of the pack on the edge of the competition's top six. 

With 91 metres and six tackle busts to her name, Taylor formed part of what coach Tony Herman described as an improved running performance from his side in attack, with the 22-year-old slotting in at fullback after an early head knock to Kiwi Ferns playmaker Tyla King forced a backline reshuffle. 

While Taylor may struggle to unseat Emma Verran as the first choice No.1 for the remainder of the season, Herman said post-match that her return gives him the luxury of genuine depth in his spine. 

"Jada's been wanting to play for weeks, but we've held her back a little bit to make sure she was 100 percent," Herman said.

"Tyla goes down with a head knock and we had to flip Emma into six (five-eighth) and Jada into one (fullback), and it was a seamless move. 

"She's been doing a lot of work at training and that's a real credit to her that it was seamless."

After rupturing her ACL in Round 2 last year, Taylor was expected to start the season for Cronulla and had been completing pre-season training with the side before medical staff halted proceedings. 

"I did more tests that revealed I was still favouring the other leg and it just wasn't at a percentage where they wanted me to play," Taylor told NRL.com.

"They want me to play for a long time. I'm only 22, and while I feel like I'm maturing, I'm still in that mindset of 'I want to be on the field, I want to be on the field' so it was nice to have them holding me back for my own benefit.

"It was good to be back though; god it feels good.

I got a bit emotional after the game – it feels like it's been such a long time – I called my family quickly afterwards and the tears were flowing.

Jada Taylor

The 12-month layoff marked a frustrating period for Taylor on the back of her emergence as a first-choice player for Cronulla in 2023, a season in which she had five try assists in just six games. 

While the one-time Indigenous All Star admitted to feeling some anxiety about her lack of playing time ahead of being off contract beyond next season, Taylor said the Sharks couldn't have been more supportive during her rehab period. 

"Tony and the coaching staff were honest with me and they said that their thoughts about me hadn't changed since day one," she said.

"When you've got them in your corner, there's less pressure, it's just the internal pressure [from myself] then.

"I had the first of three shoulder reconstructions at 16, I've had ankle surgery and now the knee. I just think that I haven't really got my luck with injuries yet.

"But with playing comes confidence and hopefully with that some of the ability comes back for me too."