Taylor lines up at One Community Awards

Vodafone Warriors back rower Elijah Taylor will be among the NRL stars rubbing shoulders with rugby league’s grassroots heroes when they launch a spectacular week of 2012 grand final celebrations with the game’s annual One Community Awards tonight.

He’ll be joined by contemporaries Nathan Hindmarsh, Johnathan Thurston, Scott Prince, Anthony Minichiello and Terry Campese as well as NSW Premier, the Hon Barry O’Farrell, Deputy Opposition Leader, the Hon Linda Burney MP, NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation, the Hon Graham Annesley MP and ARLC chairman John Grant.

More than 350 guests from across NRL clubs and Australia’s grassroots rugby league community will gather to celebrate the off-field achievements of the game’s stars and everyday unsung heroes.

Along with players from 14 of the other 15 clubs, 22-year-old Taylor is the Vodafone Warriors’ nominee for the Ken Stephen Medal, awarded to the NRL player who is deemed to have made the most outstanding contribution to the community in the past year. Ruben Wiki became the first and so far the only Vodafone Warrior to win the supreme acknowledgement in 2007.

Finalists for the nine community awards will be presented at an inspiring ceremony at Sydney’s Town Hall:

Telstra Ken Stephen Medal
Telstra will provide $5,000 to the winner and $5,000 to their favourite charity.

Toyota National Volunteer of the Year
Toyota will provide $5,000 to the winner and $5,000 to the winner’s club

Harvey Norman Women in League Achievement Award
Harvey Norman will provide the winner with a $5,000 Harvey Norman gift card

Telstra One Community Grassroots Club of the Year
Telstra will provide two Telstra Assistance Packs valued at $2,000 each plus $2,000 to the winning club

AAMI Service to the Community
AAMI will provide $5,000 towards the winning community program

AAMI Service to Refereeing
AAMI will provide $2,500 to the winner
Holiday Inn Development National Teacher of the Year
Holiday Inn will provide $2,500 to the winning teacher and a $500 equipment pack for their school

ARLC Young Indigenous Learn Earn Legend! Award
The winner of the award will receive a $5000 education scholarship from the Australian Rugby League Commission to support their studies

Guests include:
NSW Premier the Hon Barry O’Farrell
Minister for Sport and Recreation the Hon Graham Annesley MP
ARLC chairman John Grant
ARLC interim chief executive Shane Mattiske
ARL commissioner Wayne Pearce
Deputy Opposition leader the Hon Linda Burney MP
ARL chief executive Geoff Carr
NRL general manager of community, culture and diversity Trish Crews
2012 Ken Stephen Medal nominees: Jharal Yow Yeh (Brisbane Broncos), Terry Campese (Canberra Raiders), Dene Halatau (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Ben Ross (Cronulla Sharks), Scott Prince (Gold Coast Titans), George Rose (Manly Sea Eagles), Matt Duffie (Melbourne Storm), Tim Mannah (Parramatta Eels), Tim Grant (Penrith Panthers), Anthony Minichiello (Roosters), Elijah Taylor (Warriors), Keith Galloway (Wests Tigers)
Ambassadors: Trent Barrett, David Peachey, Mario Fenech