Jason Taylor

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Born
Tuesday, 2nd February, 1971
Current Age
53 years and 45 days

Awards & Accolades

Rothmans Medal
1996
Dally M Captain Of The Year
1998

Biography

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.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NRL 276 47 942   35 2107 146 120 10 52.90% List
Tooheys Challenge Cup 1 3 33   - 78 0 1 0 0.00% List
NRL Finals 16 2 39   6 92 5 11 0 31.25% List
City vs Country 3 - 3   1 7 2 1 0 66.67% List
State of Origin 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NSW 1993 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List
NSW City 1993-95 3 - 3   1 7 2 1 0 66.67% List
Overall1993-1995 5 0 3   1 7 3 2 0 60.00% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Western Suburbs NSWRL 1990 20 1 38 / 73 52.05% 1 81 5 14 1 25.00% List
Western Suburbs NSWRL 1991 24 1 80 / 105 76.19% 6 170 14 9 1 58.33% List
Western Suburbs NSWRL 1992 21 1 51 / 72 70.83% 2 108 11 9 1 52.38% List
Western Suburbs NSWRL 1993 21 3 56 / 70 80.00% 3 127 6 15 0 28.57% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1994 25 6 93 / 123 75.61% 7 217 18 6 1 72.00% List
North Sydney ARL 1995 23 3 84 / 111 75.68% 2 182 11 10 2 47.83% List
North Sydney ARL 1996 24 5 108 / 129 83.72% 2 238 16 6 2 66.67% List
North Sydney ARL 1997 25 10 98 / 131 74.81% 6 242 14 10 1 56.00% List
North Sydney NRL 1998 26 5 108 / 140 77.14% 1 237 17 9 0 65.38% List
North Sydney NRL 1999 24 3 72 / 100 72.00% 2 158 8 16 0 33.33% List
Northern Eagles NRL 2000 17 1 38 / 54 70.37% 2 82 6 11 0 35.29% List
Parramatta NRL 2001 26 8 116 / 144 80.56% 1 265 20 5 1 76.92% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Western Suburbs 1990-93 86 6 225 / 320 70.31% 12 486 36 47 3 41.86% List
North Sydney 1994-99 147 32 563 / 734 76.70% 20 1274 84 57 6 57.14% List
Northern Eagles 2000 17 1 38 / 54 70.37% 2 82 6 11 0 35.29% List
Parramatta 2001 26 8 116 / 144 80.56% 1 265 20 5 1 76.92% List
Overall1990-2001 276 47 942 / 1252 75.24% 35 2,107 146 120 10 52.90% List

Your Say

  • paul matthews
    06/03/2012

    an absolute champion and now great coach

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Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, AJ Lucantonio, Alan Katzmann, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Max Turner, Steven Russo

Sources: ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1996, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 1999, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2000, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2002, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1997, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2001, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 1998, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1991-92, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1992-93, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1994, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1995