Why should you VOTE for Jada Taylor for the Veronica White Medal? Well, let’s start with the facts.
The proud Gamilaroi woman is the first full-time Deadly Choices Programs Officer at the Sharks and in the NRL, as well as the club’s Indigenous Programs Coordinator.
Taylor runs Deadly Choices programs that empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to make healthy lifestyle choices, and over the last three years has helped engage more than 600 participants through school programs, while helping drive more than 150 people in for a 715 Health Check in 2025.
Jada helped deliver the Deadly Choices Healthy Lifestyle program to 104 students last year alone.
A total of 2,099 Health Check shirts and 1,335 education shirts with Sharks branding were handed out to the Indigenous community in 2025, and that’s not including all the incredible work she’s done this year.
“I think I was born passionate about community and that stems from my parents and my family taking me to local rugby league games as a young kid,” the Tamworth junior product recalled.
“I’m passionate about talking about the health inequalities our Indigenous people face and ways in which we can improve that, and that starts with our youth.”
She has also played a key role in growing the Sharks’ First Nations Community Day, which she helped start in 2024. Since then, it has connected more than 600 local First Nations community members with rugby league, health services and Indigenous health providers.
At last week’s event, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander locals got to watch the NRL Sharks train, and Vitalis Family Medical Practice healthcare workers were also on site at Ocean Protect Stadium, offering 715 Health Checks.
“We know that a lot of our Indigenous people don’t go and get their health checks at a health service because there can be that distrust, but when you invite people to come watch the Sharks captain’s run, then everyone turns up, so that’s just one way we’re trying to close the gap to access,” Taylor said.
Fellow Shark and 2025 Veronica White Medal winner Rhiannon Byers backed her great mate’s impact in the community.
“She’s closing the gap for young Indigenous kids in the Sutherland Shire. We don’t talk enough about our health. It’s a topic that goes under the radar, but I think the work she is doing in the Shire is making an impact because I see kids walking around in their Deadly Choices shirts, so it’s mad to see.”
Jada’s nomination has helped her junior club, the Dungowan Cowboys, pick up $1,000 to support the club, with the same amount going to all other nominees’ junior clubs.
“If you win, you get $2,000 that goes back to your junior rugby league club,” Byers recalled.
“Then another $2,000 goes to an organisation that you’d like to donate to. Last year I donated to ‘Find Ya Feet’, and my local league club is Warialda Wombats, so they finally got some new jerseys and fixed up their change rooms.”
But if Cronulla’s number one misses out on the award and the extra cash for her junior club, she’s just proud to keep on fighting the good fight and helping others in the community.
“I’m so grateful for the Sharks and Deadly Choices helping me live out two dreams at once, playing in the NRLW and helping people in the community,” Taylor said.
Voting is open via this link for fans to have their say on who should win.
Get your votes in before it closes on Monday, August 31.
Jada Taylor - 2026 Veronica White Medal nominee
You can listen to Jada and Rhi talking about the great work they do in the community and much more on the Sharks new NRLW podcast via these links:
Listen on Spotify HERE
Listen on Apple Music HERE
Listen on Acast HERE
