Ado-Carr slowing down? Not Likely..

[Mr 95%]

Daily Telegraph

NRL Fastest Man 2022: Josh Addo-Carr falls behind Jason Saab, Stephen Crichton, Dom Young
After spending five years as the undeniable NRL sprint king, Bulldogs flyer Josh Addo-Carr is in danger of losing his fastest man tag to a gang of young quicks. Find out who’s on top.

Nick Walshaw

July 16, 2022 - 6:00AM


Canterbury’s Josh Addo-Carr is in danger of losing his Fastest Man in Rugby League tag.
Surprise statistics revealing the Indigenous livewire doesn’t even own the quickest mark among Bulldogs players in 2022.

After spending five years as the undeniable NRL sprint king, Addo-Carr suddenly finds himself needing to hit another gear — as he has done before — to reel in a gang of young speedsters, including Manly winger Jason Saab, Penrith centre Stephen Crichton and Newcastle flyer Dom Young.


According to exclusive Telstra Tracker data provided by the NRL, Addo-Carr currently has the seventh fastest speed of all players — 36.1km/h.

While Foxx still has a third of the competition remaining to reclaim his crown, and that scorching PB of 38.5km/h, his 2022 numbers place him behind not only the game’s emerging sprint kings, but also fellow Bulldog Matt Dufty. Despite having been dumped from the Dogs top side in recent weeks, Dufty still owns a high speed of 36.6km/h.

Josh Addo-Carr has slipped down the order in the NRL fastest man statistics this season. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images


At the top of the table, meanwhile, are Saab and Crichton — with the pair tied first on 37.4km/h. Then comes Young (37.3), livewire Canberra fullback Xavier Savage (36.7) and Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga (36.6).

Apart from Foxx potentially being dethroned, the other key talking point among the Telstra Tracker figures is the number of noted Queensland sprinters who are yet to hit top gear.

Surprisingly, North Queensland’s Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow — aka ‘The Hammer’ – and Brisbane pairing Herbie Farnworth and Selwyn Cobbo are all outside the top 15.


NRL's fastest men 2022
1. Jason Saab (Sea Eagles) 37.4 km/h
2. Stephen Crichton (Panthers) 37.4
3. Dom Young (Knights) 37.3
4. Xavier Savage (Raiders) 36.7
5. Kalyn Ponga (Knights) 36.6
6. Matt Dufty (Bulldogs) 36.6
7. Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs) 36.1
8. Xavier Coates (Storm) 35.6
9. Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks) 35.4
10. Viliami Vailea (Warriors) 35.4
11. Jamayne Isaako (Titans) 35.3
12. Kevin Naiqama (Roosters) 35.2
13. Tolutau Koula (Sea Eagles) 35.1
14. Cody Ramsey (Dragons) 35.1
15. Tom Dearden (Cowboys) 35.1


Yet while the highest Tracker ranking from either the Cowboys or Broncos is Origin hero Tom Dearden, who sits 15th, the resurgence of both clubs means, just like with Foxx, there is time to run the leaders down.

First introduced during the 2017 State of Origin series, the Telstra Tracker is considered rugby league’s most reliable tool for sorting — at least in any sort of official capacity — the fastest man title.

In its first winter, Addo-Carr ran his way into top spot with a time of 36.3km/hr while playing for NSW. Two years later, he would then double down and record what remains the game’s top speed of 38.5km/hr, against North Queensland.

Manly winger Jason Saab has notched the equal-fastest speed this season. Picture: NRL Photos
However, clear air has been a tougher commodity to come by since switching to the Canterbury this year.

The 26-year-old was also dumped from NSW Origin by coach Brad Fittler, albeit with many fans arguing his speed could have proved the difference in what would eventually be a shock Queensland series triumph.

While Addo-Carr’s reign as NRL sprint king has long been undisputed, there is no doubt the gap has been narrowing.

Only last winter, the then Storm winger finished first on 38.1km/hr – but only a bee’s appendage ahead of Saab, on 38km/hr.

Fastest men by NRL club
Panthers - Stephen Crichton (37.4 km/h)
Sea Eagles - Jason Saab (37.4)
Knights - Dom Young (37.3)
Raiders - Xavier Savage (36.7)
Bulldogs - Matt Dufty (36.6)
Storm - Xavier Coates (35.6)
Sharks - Ronaldo Mulitalo (35.4)
Warriors - Viliami Vailea (35.4)
Titans - Jamayne Isaako (35.3)
Roosters - Kevin Naiqama (35.2)
Dragons - Cody Ramsey (35.1)
Cowboys - Tom Dearden (35.1)
Eels - Waqa Blake (34.9)
Rabbitohs - Alex Johnston (34.9)
Broncos - Herbie Farnworth (34.8)
Tigers - Starford Toa (33.9)


So who takes it from here?

While only a brave man would rule Addo-Carr out, Saab heads an exciting crew of young contenders.

Apart from those currently boasting Telstra Tracker marks of 36 or higher, others yet to hit top gear include ‘The Hammer’ and Sea Eagles flyer Tolutau Koula, the schoolboy sensation whose parents ran at three Olympic Games for Tonga.

Knights flyer Dominic Young has speed to burn. Picture: NRL Images.
Boasting a high school 100m time of 10.58 seconds, Koula has played 13 NRL games this season and, right now, sits in 13th spot with a top speed of 35.1km..

 

[underdogsontop2246]

Lol he doesn't even try to run fast. Do an actual speed race test. What an absolute joke of an article.

 

[Psycho Doggie]

lol @ Tiggers

 

[NPC83]

Thought Fox left Crichton on the treadmill when we played them earlier in the year

 

[Dingo]

Fittler apologist article

 

[Sandra's Bollocks]

I would've thought Holmes would be up there tbh.

 

[TOTTO]

Not a sprint race its league, so still up there who cares.

 

[B-Train]

He's looked pretty fast to me when he's made all of those line breaks coming out of our own half. I hate these speed tracker stats that mean fuck all.

 

[Roger the alien]

Fox is still fast but for what it's worth I've always thought Saab was faster.

 

[belmore_utd]

Acceleration is what makes ado carr not to top speed

 

[Matthew G]

Fox is fastest, the above means nothing, its just speed they have reached this year, fox hasnt had to come out of first gear hence why his speeds like that, everytime hes intercept nobody has been even slightly close

 

[Philistine]

A couple of years ago, Reimis Smith, playing for the Dogs, ran around Matt Dufty (for St George) and absolutely smoked him to score a long range try. Dufty was known even then as a speedster, but Smith appeared to know that he had him for pace when he put the move on.

I haven't seen Smith go that fast since, either for the Dogs or Storm. This leads me to conclude that some players grab every opportunity to show off their speed, and others go only as fast as they need to, to get the job done.

 

[CroydonDog]

Not sure if he's getting slower, but I think he's tending to not back himself like he used to (eg: going for the corner taking on a defender). If that makes sense?

Could be niggling hammies?

 

[chuckynemo]

This is not accurate. Put them infront of a speedgun and then see who is the fastest. The media would do anything to shit on the club. Scumbags

 

[MitchNewton]

Lol he doesn't even try to run fast. Do an actual speed race test. What an absolute joke of an article.

It’s just a fun article. No need to be so outraged

 

[GoTheDoggies]

Fittler apologist article

That is all this is PR cover for Fittler

 

[vegny]

A couple of years ago, Reimis Smith, playing for the Dogs, ran around Matt Dufty (for St George) and absolutely smoked him to score a long range try. Dufty was known even then as a speedster, but Smith appeared to know that he had him for pace when he put the move on.

I haven't seen Smith go that fast since, either for the Dogs or Storm. This leads me to conclude that some players grab every opportunity to show off their speed, and others go only as fast as they need to, to get the job done.

I think dufty could have done better chasing smith. May be just too scared he had to make the tackle

Thought smith ran faster chasing allan after an intercept. Allan was playing for south at the time.

Agree with the conclusion tho. That stats is as useful as tits on a bull

 

[CrittaMagic69]

You lot cry over anything, it's fucking embarrassing.

 

[DinkumDog]

Increasingly It’s a younger man’s game and although Fox only turns 27 next week, it’s not surprising that you’d see 20/21 year olds like Saab, Crichton et al emerging as faster. Another pointless article really.

 

[Philistine]

It is easy to allow your paranoia to get out of control when you support the Dogs.

A moron coach drops the fastest man in league. His replacement does nothing in three games to strike fear into the opposition, and makes two costly errors in the decider that both result in tries being conceded. Dogs supporters (and others) point out that JACs pace and strike power might have made a difference to the final result, indirectly criticizing the moron coach further, and, in a nick of time, his media mates come up with an article that suggests maybe JAC isn't so fast after all.