Giving back: NRL confirm eight finalists for community awards

The finalists for the Ken Stephen Medal and Veronica White Medal for rugby league's man and woman of the year have been confirmed by the NRL.

The awards recognise players giving back to their communities in various ways, with the four players recognised picked out of the NRL and NRLW community teams of the year.

In the NRL, the finalists are:

• Jai Arrow (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Josh Curran (Canterbury Bulldogs
• Kieran Foran (Gold Coast Titans)
• Billy Smith (Sydney Roosters)

And in the NRLW, the finalists are:

• Kayla Romaniuk (Newcastle Knights)
• Rhiannon Byers (Cronulla Sharks)
• Elsie Albert (Parramatta Eels)
• Jakiya Whitfeld (North Queensland Cowboys)

All eight players recognised are in the running due to their work both within and outside of club commitments, giving back to areas of the community such as Indigenous, youth, aged or disadvantaged, among others.

Last year's winners were Nicho Hynes and Kimberley Hunt.