We asked NRL clubs their fastest, fittest and strongest players... the results are stunning

EL Hefe

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We asked NRL clubs their fastest, fittest and strongest players... the results are stunning

Eamonn Tiernan from Fox Sports
@eamonn_tiernan

December 30th, 2023 11:01 am
NRL players are channelling their inner Muhammad Ali this summer, churning out the blood, sweat and tears to become their own version of ‘the greatest’.

The legendary boxer always claimed his fights were won a long time before he stepped under those bright lights and into the ring.

Ali emphasised those bouts were won on the long, lonely days when it was just him and his thoughts hitting the pavement, or the bag.

NRL players are currently focused on a goal 10 months away, putting in the hard yards that will hopefully yield them a grand final appearance next September.

But not every player has been on the same page. Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett banished big man Val Te Whare to a boot camp after he came back to pre-season underdone.


Tigers rookie coach Benji Marshall was filthy when winger David Nofoaluma returned and the middle forwards were running rings around the veteran.

So foxsports.com.au contacted every club to see which players are setting the standards for their sides in fitness, strength and speed.

Every club came back to us, except for the Bulldogs, and a majority were willing to share the names of their top performers.


Cowboys star Tom Dearden broke his club’s record for the 1.2km time trial, while Maika Sivo is both the fittest and the strongest at the Eels.

Read on below for all the strength and conditions numbers foxsports.com.au received from the participating clubs.


ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

1.2km time trial

1. Zac Lomax (4:28)

2. Jacob Liddle

3. Ryan Couchman

Bench


1. Ben Murdoch-Masila (170kgs)

2. Mikaele Ravalawa

3. Alec Tuitavake


Squat

1. Josh Coric (225kgs)

2. Mikaele Ravalawa

3. Francis Molo

DOLPHINS

1.2km time trial

1. Max Plath (4:11)

2. Tom Gilbert (4:12)

3. Kurt Donoghoe

Bench

1. Cooper Jenkins (150kgs)

2. Josh Kerr


3. Tesi Niu

4. Tuki Simpkins

Squat


1. Cooper Jenkins (225kgs)

2. Val Te Whare

3. Tesi Niu


GOLD COAST TITANS (no order)

Fittest:

Chris Randall

Beau Fermor

Keano Kini

Strongest:

Beau Fermor

Ben Liyou

Aaron Schoupp

Best body composition:

Ken Maumalo

Ben Liyou

Jojo Fifita

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (no order)

Fittest:

Damien Cook

Jack Wighton

Strongest:

Thomas Burgess

Damien Cook (pound-for-pound)

Fastest:

Alex Johnston

Tyrone Munro

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS

1.2km time trial: Tom Dearden (4:26 - club record)

Bench: Heilum Luki (170 kgs)

Squat: Coen Hess (205 kgs)

Deadlift (trap bar): Luciano Leilua (230 kgs)



CRONULLA SHARKS

Fastest: Sam Stonestreet

Fittest: Blayke Brailey

Strongest: Jack Williams

Biggest Bench: Royce Hunt

Biggest Squat: Salesi Ataata

MELBOURNE STORM

Fittest: Tyran Wishart

Fastest: Xavier Coates

Strongest: Will Warbrick


CANBERRA RAIDERS

Fastest (20m)

Xavier Savage - 2.583 seconds

Kaeo Weekes - 2.620 seconds

1200m Shuttle Test

Hohepa Puru - 4:33

Regan Carr (Jersey Flegg) - 4:39


PARRAMATTA EELS

Fittest: Maika Sivo

Strongest: Maika Sivo

Clubs whose strength and conditions departments didn’t want to share their top performers: Tigers, Roosters, Knights, Panthers, Broncos, Warriors, Sea Eagles

No response: Bulldogs
 

EL Hefe

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We asked NRL clubs their fastest, fittest and strongest players... the results are stunning

Eamonn Tiernan from Fox Sports
@eamonn_tiernan

December 30th, 2023 11:01 am
NRL players are channelling their inner Muhammad Ali this summer, churning out the blood, sweat and tears to become their own version of ‘the greatest’.

The legendary boxer always claimed his fights were won a long time before he stepped under those bright lights and into the ring.

Ali emphasised those bouts were won on the long, lonely days when it was just him and his thoughts hitting the pavement, or the bag.

NRL players are currently focused on a goal 10 months away, putting in the hard yards that will hopefully yield them a grand final appearance next September.

But not every player has been on the same page. Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett banished big man Val Te Whare to a boot camp after he came back to pre-season underdone.


Tigers rookie coach Benji Marshall was filthy when winger David Nofoaluma returned and the middle forwards were running rings around the veteran.

So foxsports.com.au contacted every club to see which players are setting the standards for their sides in fitness, strength and speed.

Every club came back to us, except for the Bulldogs, and a majority were willing to share the names of their top performers.


Cowboys star Tom Dearden broke his club’s record for the 1.2km time trial, while Maika Sivo is both the fittest and the strongest at the Eels.

Read on below for all the strength and conditions numbers foxsports.com.au received from the participating clubs.


ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

1.2km time trial

1. Zac Lomax (4:28)

2. Jacob Liddle

3. Ryan Couchman

Bench


1. Ben Murdoch-Masila (170kgs)

2. Mikaele Ravalawa

3. Alec Tuitavake


Squat

1. Josh Coric (225kgs)

2. Mikaele Ravalawa

3. Francis Molo

DOLPHINS

1.2km time trial

1. Max Plath (4:11)

2. Tom Gilbert (4:12)

3. Kurt Donoghoe

Bench

1. Cooper Jenkins (150kgs)

2. Josh Kerr


3. Tesi Niu

4. Tuki Simpkins

Squat


1. Cooper Jenkins (225kgs)

2. Val Te Whare

3. Tesi Niu


GOLD COAST TITANS (no order)

Fittest:

Chris Randall

Beau Fermor

Keano Kini

Strongest:

Beau Fermor

Ben Liyou

Aaron Schoupp

Best body composition:

Ken Maumalo

Ben Liyou

Jojo Fifita

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (no order)

Fittest:

Damien Cook

Jack Wighton

Strongest:

Thomas Burgess

Damien Cook (pound-for-pound)

Fastest:

Alex Johnston

Tyrone Munro

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS

1.2km time trial: Tom Dearden (4:26 - club record)

Bench: Heilum Luki (170 kgs)

Squat: Coen Hess (205 kgs)

Deadlift (trap bar): Luciano Leilua (230 kgs)



CRONULLA SHARKS

Fastest: Sam Stonestreet

Fittest: Blayke Brailey

Strongest: Jack Williams

Biggest Bench: Royce Hunt

Biggest Squat: Salesi Ataata

MELBOURNE STORM

Fittest: Tyran Wishart

Fastest: Xavier Coates

Strongest: Will Warbrick


CANBERRA RAIDERS

Fastest (20m)

Xavier Savage - 2.583 seconds

Kaeo Weekes - 2.620 seconds

1200m Shuttle Test

Hohepa Puru - 4:33

Regan Carr (Jersey Flegg) - 4:39


PARRAMATTA EELS

Fittest: Maika Sivo

Strongest: Maika Sivo

Clubs whose strength and conditions departments didn’t want to share their top performers: Tigers, Roosters, Knights, Panthers, Broncos, Warriors, Sea Eagles

No response: Bulldogs

Not all clubs are mentioned with the results but Fux Sports went out of their way to the mention the dogs...
Well done...
 
Last edited:

Dogs4eva13

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It’s bullshit too. No way Sivo is the fittest at Parra
Gutterson would be fittest by a country mile. Obviously trying to give sivo some confidence. Had a bit of a mixed year. Running game was a bit better but got caught out in defence a lot. Take Sivo out of their back 5 and it is looking very reserve grade.
 

Dogs4eva13

Previously James Cochrane
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I’ll have a go mate…

Fastest - Reckon Xerri might just beat the Foxx with his younger legs
Strongest - Billy Kiks, he looks the most likely
Fittest - Reed, Foxx or Presto
Xerri would be close enough to fox that I wouldn’t want them to race as both would have to push and someone would do a hammy.
 

John Matrix

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Would have been awesome to be a fly on the wall in that room when they were rejected - hope it was a short and sharp “no” then instant hang up.

The club has set a precedent here and when we are on the up, I want them to stick to it and not feed any of the germalists who posts negative crap about us.
 

Roger the alien

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Would have been awesome to be a fly on the wall in that room when they were rejected - hope it was a short and sharp “no” then instant hang up.

The club has set a precedent here and when we are on the up, I want them to stick to it and not feed any of the germalists who posts negative crap about us.
I'm sure they handed the phone around the room so everyone could have a pretty good laugh.
 

Psycho Doggie

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Well done to the club/team, that was the appropriate response to pretty much anything that comes out of Faux, keep up the good work.
 
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