Bigger, faster, stronger. This seems to be the mantra for the modern-day rugby league player, and under the present rules, the faster the better.
Nearly everyone has an opinion about who are the fastest players in the game, and technology like the Telstra Tracker claims to be able to provide the answers.
But unless every player is being measured on a continual basis and over the same distances, results can be misleading. I’d prefer to rely upon my own observations.
So I’ve picked the following team who I believe were the fastest players going around. The only criterion is that they must have played at least five NRL games in total, and have played in the position that they are selected in at least once.
Fullback – Tesi Niu (Brisbane)
There’s some very quick fullbacks running around but the former Australian Schoolboy representative looks to have them covered.
Just 20-odd games into his career, the Broncos flyer is beginning to unlock his undoubted try-scoring potential since being handed the number one jersey.
Fellow Broncos speedster Selwyn Cobbo would also be a contender anywhere in the outside backs, as would Reece Walsh from the Warriors and the electrifying Ryan Papenhuyzen from Melbourne.
Wingers – Josh Addo-Carr (Melbourne) and Jason Saab (Manly)
At the ripe old age of 26, Addo-Carr has a number of contenders vying for his fastest man on the paddock title but he hasn’t lost any of his pace.
Jason Saab had a break-out season for Manly in 2021 and it’s hard to see anyone ever running down this flying giant any time soon.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Xavier Coates from Melbourne is also right up there for pace and the more I see of Newcastle’s Dominic Young in his limited opportunities to date, the faster he looks.
Centres – Phillip Sami (Gold Coast) and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (North Queensland)
Sami now has over 70 first-grade games for the Titans but has been largely wasted on the wing.
He has the size, footwork and speed to be one of the best centres in the game, and who can forget his effort in running down Addo-Carr in 2019.
Tabuai-Fidow reminds me a lot of Cowboys great Matty Bowen. He has sensational outright speed complemented by a great swerve, balance and footwork.
Other contenders include Melbourne’s Reimis Smith, Waqa Blake from Penrith and the Tigers’ James Roberts, who looks to have lost a yard or two of pace in the last couple of years.
Five-eighth – Luke Metcalf (Cronulla)
With just a half-dozen games under his belt, Metcalf barely qualifies for this side but just shades Parramatta’s Dylan Brown for outright speed in my book.
I don’t see anyone running Metcalf down if he gets into the clear. Let’s hope he doesn’t disappear from view at his new club.
Halfback – Mitchell Moses (Parramatta)
Moses has always been one of those polarising players, but on his day there’s just no better player in the game.
(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
There’s no doubting his speed though, and when he gets into the clear, throws the head back and puts the foot down, you are not going to catch him.
Jake Averillo from Canterbury is another halfback with great pace.
Hooker – Tom Starling (Canberra)
The little Raiders hooker can really motor, has both great acceleration and can go the length of the field.
He just shades Souths’ Damien Cook now, while Cowboys veteran Jake Granville remains surprisingly fast.
Front rowers – Jack Hetherington (Canterbury) and Ethan Bullemor (Brisbane)
Hetherington is better known both for the mayhem he can cause on the field and the length of time he’s spent off it while suspended, but under that combative exterior is a very fast forward waiting to shine.
A move to the edge might see him produce his best form for the Dogs.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Ethan Bullemor is a young forward with a big future ahead of him, and one attribute he already has in abundance is great natural speed. Once he gets going, he’s going to be more than a handful for any defence.
A couple of other fast-moving front rowers worth watching are Payne Haas from the Broncos, who is right up there, along with Josh Kerr from the Dragons.
Second rowers – Heilum Luki (North Queensland) and Sitili Tupouniua (Sydney Roosters)
Luki looks like a special talent in the making, and who can forget him running down the Warriors’ Reece Walsh last year. What an effort.
Tupouniua has been one of the quickest forwards going around for a couple of years now and his trademark runs on the Roosters’ right edge are a problem for any defender.
Penrith’s Liam Martin is also quick, as is converted centre Euen Aitken from the Warriors.
Lock forward – Cameron Murray (South Sydney)
The lock forward position is going through somewhat of a transformation under the new six-again rule, as the big bopper is being replaced by players with speed and ball skills.
Cameron Murray is one of the best locks in the business and certainly looks the fastest of the current batch.
That’s how I see it, but what do you think? Who are the fast movers from your club that should be in this 13?
Rob
Guest
I’m a stats watcher and I am continually trying to understand what’s working, so yes I conceded you have an undeniably case. A stat I would love to see is error assist? It was a massive part of my frustration with JT mid career along with kick meters. Val’s errors are soft and sometimes really arrogantly stupid at times in my opinion. Maybe Payten believe Hammer is more in control under pressure? Maybe he believes Holmes is capable of creating on an edge with ball playing ability? Maybe he thinks defensively Hammer can use his sidelines and speed better to make a 1 on 1? Maybe he thinks Holmes needs help when defending? Val is very impulsive like L. Mitchell in defence. He will attack and shoot out of the line to pressure a passer looking for a shot or interception. Maybe with Drinkwater’s back pedal defence and Val’s up and in they’ll complete spook opponents. LOL. I’m happy for Todd to try something and also give Hammer the freedom to roam. Hammer is extremely dangerous if a kick chase has a hole in it returning the ball or if Robson or Granville find some space in the middle following them. Val is also a fearless and dangerous dumb half runner that can get a quick play the ball and create momentum. My hope is they both play 20plus games without injury.
Tony
Roar Guru
There you go getting tangled up in statistics again Nat. :happy:
Nat
Roar Guru
All we can go off is the stats supplied but I was surprised as well but like you say, he is the guy who takes off and few can keep up. My concern is that cannot always be the case. At FB he is going to have to execute plays, sweep around and set the winger up. The reason I like Hammer in the centres, defensively very strong and his combo with Drinkwater, who just knows to look, pass/chip wide for him is pretty special. I know Val fluffed quite a bit and some basic errors. 34 sounds like a lot (Turbo had more errors and Tede wasn't far behind Val, bet you wouldn't have guessed that) so I would like to know how some are attributed to FBs, eg, are contested bombs counted as errors etc? Val definitely has to improve I just think his maturity and ball playing is better than Hammer at this time. Make no mistake, the Cowboys are very close to my heart. I'm born and bred up there but work brought me south. I was a Bronco before they came in but unlike most of my mates and missus, I didn't swap when they came good in the 00's. They are very close 2nd though and I follow them with as much passion when not playing Brisbane. It sucked to lose the 2015 GF but couldn't be happier for the team and region when they did.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
Jason Saab chased him down easily in the match between Manly v Cowboys although botched the tackle!
Rob
Guest
You have a good stat for that opinion Nat. I would dispute the LBA thing and I do recall once or twice players fluffing tries. Watch the game highlights v Dragons in Rocky for example. I’m sure Hammer puts Hampton and Feldt into space? Errors might be burning in my assessment in my opinion. Val is reminding me of Milf (match winner, defensive worry). Dam you, concentrate on fixing the Broncos.
Rob
Guest
It would be nice my team didn’t require a good defensive fullback. Perhaps make the tackle in the front line is a priority? I agree with a lot of what you’re saying. God dam I wish Holmes could tackle, consistently catch and read the game. The TA’s might just be the case of Hammer not requiring a support. How do you support hammer? The tries his scores are frighteningly good individual brilliance.
egbert
Guest
Always a juicy subject. For me, Saab is the quickest player in rugby league and in the top few over both codes of rugby. He is also the most aesthetic runner to watch - extremely graceful style. I think he'd take the rest in a sprint of pretty much any distance. What is more impressive though is sustaining elite speed over a number of years while being a first-class winger in other facets (defence, positioning etc) - a really hard thing to do and that's why Josh Addo-Carr is so good.
Phil
Roar Rookie
I was a fan of Bob Moses even though he played for Souths. He made his name in the State Cup game in 1964 playing for Newcastle against St George marking Graeme Langlands. He gave Changa a torrid time, belting him at every opportunity. He gave other Saints players a dose as well caring nothing for their reputations. Newcastle beat Saints that day thanks to a great game from Bob Moses, and a little help from Noel Spohr the referee, the LOCAL referee.
Nat
Roar Guru
So you agree with the comment above? I agree Hammer is very good defensively so wouldn't you agree it's more of a risk moving Holmes into the front line? If he's as bad defensively as you believe Hammer will have his work cut out for him. As far as football IQ and his hands I disagree. Hammer is super quick and finishes as well as any I've seen in recent history, however, he doesn't have a single Try Assist or LBA which is not great considering wingers live off centres for tries. Holmes has 12 and 22 respectively. I'm not saying Hammer won't get there but he's not there now and the FB role has a lot more aspects than scoring tries.
Rob
Guest
As lazy as David Fafita is, I do think when he’s up and rolling a lot of forwards could only dream of the speed he possesses especially over the initial 30m.
Rob
Guest
Yes I think he may give plenty of highlights especially on the acceleration front.
Rob
Guest
Hammer’s hands and football IQ are way ahead of Holmes. Holmes gets caught out of position and makes plenty of soft errors. Hammer is very good at rounding up an opponent and bring them to ground. Val sadly is a bit of a Milford in the defensive department IMO.
Rob
Guest
The Hammer is arguably the fastest in the competition. Robson and Granville 2 of the quicker 9’s. Hess is easiest the quickest front rower in the comp. Luki is quicker than Reece Walsh. I haven’t seen to many catch Taumalolo or Holmes from behind either. They traded the slowest one McGuire out.
mushi
Roar Guru
The moses point is interesting. I think we forget how fast some of the playmakers are because they play slow until they need to
Albo
Roar Rookie
I was really impressed by his defence in the SOO. Surprised me. I guess that speed and a bit of positional nous helps. I think he is in for a big 2022 also.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Bob Moses was another Souths centre and tough nut ( 1965-1970) , who was converted to the second row , before finishing his career at Manly ( 1971-1973) as a tough forward.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! It was the first GF my dad took me to ! We were on, what was then the Paddington Hill beside the MA Noble stand, and we were drenched right from the 3rd grade grand final ( go Tigers !) to stumps. We were right in line with that McCarthy intercept. You could see it coming. There was nothing in the match until that intercept sealed it.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Boris Stcherbina. State Junior sprint champion. Played just 4 first grade games for the Panthers in 1968 after going alright in reserve grade. Scored just the one try in first grade. Was very quick on the wing, but got few opportunities in that team.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! I am a big fan of Dom Young. Got caught with some errors when trying a bit too hard last season, but with some NRL experience now under the belt, I reckon he will be one of Knights real bright lights for 2022 !
josh
Guest
reminding me of losing metcalf hurts :crying: