Born: February 27, 1990 – Hawera
Test record: 11 Tests (2011-13, 2017) – 2 Tests (8 points)
Tours: 2011 Four Nations, 2013 World Cup, 2017 World Cup

Talented, versatile and professional, Elijah Taylor debuted for New Zealand at the end of a stellar rookie season with the Warriors, but injuries prevented him from making more than 11 Test appearances in a seven-year span.

Taranaki-born, Taylor was a talented rugby union junior and attended Patea High School and Kaitaia College before shining for St Paul’s College’s rugby league team. The Otahuhu Leopards junior was a foundation player for the Warriors’ NYC team from 2008 and was set for an NRL debut late in the 2009 season but was forced to withdraw injured.

Taylor captained the Warriors to its NYC premiership triumph in 2010 – scoring two tries in grand final win over South Sydney – and forged a permanent top-grade spot in the second-row early in 2011.

The 21-year-old capped a stellar season by scoring a try in the Warriors’ grand final loss to Manly (after switching to the centres during the second half to cover injuries) and receiving a Kiwis call-up for the Four Nations. Taylor came off the bench in matches against Wales and England at the 2011 tournament, as well as the post-season Test against Australia in Townsville in 2012.

A standout for the Warriors at lock, second-row, hooker or off the bench for the Warriors in 2013, Taylor lined up in the Anzac Test and all six of the Kiwis’ matches at the World Cup, scoring a try in his maiden Test start at lock against Papua New Guinea and wearing the No.13 in the epic semi-final win over England and the loss to Australia in the final.

Taylor reunited with former Warriors coach Ivan Cleary at Penrith in 2014, but injury prevented him from featuring in their finals campaign or the Kiwis’ Four Nations foray. He linked with Wests Tigers midway through 2016 and again played under Cleary there in 2017-18, playing one last Test for New Zealand against Scotland in Christchurch at the 2017 World Cup.

After 80 games for the Tigers from a total of 186 NRL appearances, Taylor joined Salford in 2021 and had subsequent stints with Featherstone and Oldham.