Sharks prop and all-round good guy Tom Hazleton has been nominated for the NRL’s 2026 Ken Stephen Medal for the incredible work he’s done in the community.
Voting has opened, and you can cast yours here, with fans encouraged to select the player they believe best reflects the leadership qualities befitting of the medal.
Hazelton has racked up more than 150 hours of community engagement since making his NRL debut in 2022, 120+ hours across Sharks Have Heart programs, and 30+ volunteer hours supporting mental health organisation ‘Find Ya Feet’.
“Since coming to this club and seeing how much the community get behind the Sharks and how much they love the club, it made me want to get out there and give back, and I’ve been doing some stuff with Tommy Herschell with Find ya Feet,” Hazelton said.
“Going to schools, to clinics and being able to put a smile on kids' faces is what it’s all about, and not only kids, obviously, we do stuff at nursing homes and with people of all ages.
“Just the joy it brings them to have an NRL athlete from the club that they’ve grown up supporting is really important to them, and I know everyone here really enjoys giving back to the community, and I know that when we need it, they give us their full support as well.”
The proud country kid, who grew up in Goulburn, understands the sacrifices involved in chasing big dreams.
Hazelton regularly shares his journey to encourage kids from regional Australia to believe they can achieve anything through resilience and hard work.
“I distinctly remember being about 16 at a country carnival out at Wagga Wagga, and Andrew Ryan was out there, and I remember listening to him talk,” Hazelton recalled.
“He moved to Sydney at a similar age to me and sort of provided a pathway that someone from a country area could go and pursue a career in the NRL.
“If you can share some of yourself with kids and they can see a pathway to where you are now, it’s really important. So that’s part of the reason why I enjoy getting out there in the community.”
Being selected in the 2026 NRL Community Team of the Year recognises Tom as one of 17 outstanding community contributors across the NRL.
This nomination continues Cronulla’s proud tradition of community leadership, with Nicho Hynes (2024) and Ronaldo Mulitalo (2021), both previous winners of the award, while Sharks NRLW centre Rhiannon Byers won the Veronica White Medal last year for women who have also made an outstanding contribution to their local community and beyond.
The 2026 Ken Stephen Medal nominees.
Thomas Hazelton – Cronulla Sharks
Blake Mozer - Brisbane Broncos
Xavier Savage - Canberra Raiders
Viliame Kikau - Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Moeaki Fotuaika - Gold Coast Titans
Jack Bostock – Dolphins
Jamal Fogarty - Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Ativalu Lisati - Melbourne Storm
Phoenix Crossland - Newcastle Knights
Erin Clark - New Zealand Warriors
Murray Taulagi - North Queensland Cowboys
Josh Addo-Carr - Parramatta Eels
Mitch Kenny - Penrith Panthers
Campbell Graham - South Sydney Rabbitohs
Dylan Egan - St. George Illawarra Dragons
James Tedesco - Sydney Roosters
Jahream Bula - Wests Tigers
You can vote here
