Jason Taylor

Jason Taylor was a deadly accurate goal-kicker with one of the best open-play kicking games in the code. At times maligned for his defence and lack of pace, the star schoolboy footballer from St Gregory’s Campbelltown made his first grade debut with Wests in 1990. Dropped to reserve grade in 1992, increasing conflict with coach Warren Ryan led Taylor to unsuccessfully seek a release from his contract. Wests' good early season form in 1993 was largely the result of Taylor’s more confident and mature efforts and he was selected as a reserve back in two State of Origin matches that year. Signing with Norths in 1994,Taylor rode the back of the fearsome Bears' pack and proved to be a match-winner when he kicked Norths into the preliminary final with a late field goal against defending premiers Brisbane. Norths were consistent semi-finalists in the late 1990s and on four occasions (1994 & 1996-98) Taylor scored over 200pts in a season. In 1996 he became the last winner of the Rothmans Medal as best and fairest player in the Sydney competition. Assuming the North Sydney captaincy Taylor became the first clubman to pass 1000 career points and established a host of club records – most points in a match (26pts in 1996 and 1997, equalling the great Harold Horder), most points in a season (242pts – 10t, 98g, 6fg, in 1997) and most points for the club (1,274pts) – before Norths merged with Manly in 2000. Taylor did not fit into N’Eagles’ coach Peter Sharp’s plans and his sacking from the team ended a record 194 consecutive first grade appearances. He successfully gained a release to play with P’matta after taking the unusual step of writing an impassioned letter to Eels’ coach Brian Smith asking for a chance to end his career in the top grade. Taylor displayed vintage form with the Eels and surged past Mick Cronin’s career goal-kicking record (856g). In July 2001 Taylor surpassed Daryl Halligan’s career point-scoring record in accumulating 2,107pts (47t, 942g, 35fg) in his 12 seasons (since bettered by Andrew johns). He retired after P’matta’s loss in the 2001 grand final - personally vindicated – and took on a coaching role with the ARL Foundation and with the Eels. When coach Brian Smith stood down early in the season Taylor took over the first grade coaching duties and took the Eels to the finals – a feat unprecedented in the history of the game for a stand-in coach. Taylor had already accepted an assistant coach role at Souths but was quickly promoted to head coach at the expense of Shaun McRae.