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Titans flyer James Roberts has been generally considered as the fastest man in the NRL, particularly since he gave Krisnan Inu almost 15 metres start and ran him down in 2011.
However, the Melbourne’s Storm’s new recruit Marika Koroibete could be even faster.
When the Raiders Jarrod Croker grabbed an intercept pass from Cooper Cronk in the 76 minute on Saturday night, Koroibete was on the opposite side of the ground and some 25 metres behind Croker. But he almost managed to catch him over 80 metres.
The Storm’s GPS tracking clocked Koroibete at 37.3kph (23.2mph)
The Storm were playing the Raiders and not the Broncos but Koroibete was running just as fast as a real four legged Bronco.
A horse averages 40kph (25mph) and the Jamaican world record holder Usain Bolt has topped 44km/h at his fastest during a 100m race. The six-time Olympic champion averages over 37.5kmh as he thunders down the track over 100m.
Compare the flying Fijian Koroibete with Matt Shirvington, who claimed five consecutive Australian national titles for the 100 metres sprint event, including the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
Marika Koroibete ran the equivalent of 10.36 seconds last Saturday night in footy boots on a bog track after nearly 80 minutes of game time, which was not a surprise given he was clocked at 10.75 over 100 metres three years ago in Fiji.
Koroibete grew up on his family farm in the remote Fijian village of Navaiyawa and to get to his home town he had to travel 20 kilometres a day over hills by foot to get to school and back.
When Koroibete’s father said goodbye to him at the airport he told him to not come back unless he has a contract. It was not long before he was signed by Wests Tigers but was quickly snapped up by the Storm.
“I’m playing with some of the best (players) in the world and a good coach too,” the quietly spoken Koroibete said.
James Roberts has clocked 36kph but has several team mates who are also rockets, like Albert Kelly, David Mead and Kevin Gordon.
Other NRL players who have registered on the GPS as flyers include Glen Fisiiahi (36kph), Shaun Johnson (35kph), Manu Vatuvei (34kph).
Let’s hope the NRL Marketing Department has taken note. A match race between James Roberts and Marika Koroibete would be exciting prior to the grand final, and while the winner is in doubt, the two speedsters would not be out of place in Glasgow tomorrow for the XX Commonwealth games.
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