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

[Psycho Doggie]

The concept is mildly interesting at best. At least half the players named haven't been consistent first graders for their club, or haven't yet played NRL level at all. If our club was ranking the players based on speed tests, bench press, and fitness tests from 1994 to 96 the player at the very bottom of the list would have been T. Lamb, who'd also have been the first player on the team sheet each week.

 

[BlackDawg]

No response because its Fox sports who absolutely love us to death

 

[stevesonthebay]

NRL-PREMIERSHIP
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

If some of the players were complaining about how hard training was to Mariner then I would say the Dogs are going to be pretty fit. Crita coming back early is a reflection on both himself and the culture at the club at the moment where only the best will do.

 

[DaBulldog]

NRL-PREMIERSHIP
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

Bulldogs players are sitting on couch watching the cricket.

 

[Nasheed]

Nasheed here,
Fans love this stuff, doggs is being scrooges here not giving this info

4.11 for 1.2km btw is flonominal
That’s what I do 1km in.

 

[T DAWG]

Yes, we will keep it on the down low and ambush every team next year with our speed, strength and fitness..wooooohooo hahahaha

 

[Nasheed]

Yes, we will keep it on the down low ambush every team next year with our speed, strength and fitness..wooooohooo hahahaha

Probably Xerri in all categories because he is ‘enhanced’.

 

[Robbothedestroyer]

Dogs fittest player was to be decided by a squad wrestlathon last man standing to claim the title, but was cancelled due to concerns about how it may impact on players mental well being.

 

[1967]

Probably Xerri in all categories because he is ‘enhanced’.

Aren’t you “enhanced” via tax payers dollars so therefore similar ?

 

[Nasheed]

Aren’t you “enhanced” via tax payers dollars so therefore similar ?

I’m only enhanced in my mind

emlightened is a better term

132 IQ.

That elevates me above most

 

[T DAWG]

Why can't you and the media just let it go? His past is his past, and he has learnt from his mistakes. Move on

Probably Xerri in all categories because he is ‘enhanced’.

 

[Mitch Connor]

Nasheed here,
Fans love this stuff, doggs is being scrooges here not giving this info

4.11 for 1.2km btw is flonominal
That’s what I do 1km in.

Bronco. It’s not 1.2km straight out.

 

[Nasheed]

Bronco. It’s not 1.2km straight out.

What u mean?

 

[bcmf]

The concept is mildly interesting at best. At least half the players named haven't been consistent first graders for their club, or haven't yet played NRL level at all. If our club was ranking the players based on speed tests, bench press, and fitness tests from 1994 to 96 the player at the very bottom of the list would have been T. Lamb, who'd also have been the first player on the team sheet each week.

it’s either a smoke screen by the clubs or it just proves athleticism is just a small component of being a top nrl player. A hole / trap ciraldo fell into with our mate perham.

 

[Nasheed]

it’s either a smoke screen by the clubs or it just proves athleticism is just a small component of being a top nrl player. A hole / trap ciraldo fell into with our mate perham.

Could argue the opposite with training gate this year
Floggin ppl too hard at the expense of talent

 

[Kenya]

Xerri, four years out of the game...and has beefed up a lot.
Maybe he is still fast, maybe not.

 

[Alan79]

Xerri, four years out of the game...and has beefed up a lot.
Maybe he is still fast, maybe not.

His sprint coach still rates him. Whether he's as quick under fatigue is the next question though.

 

[Nasheed]

His sprint coach still rates him. Whether he's as quick under fatigue is the next question though.

The spring coach was asked in an interview I saw recently who the fastest players in the game was and what I found interesting is JAC wasn’t in his list but in previous years he had him so he is aware of jac
I think he said Xerri and Saab is the fastest

 

[The DoggFather]

Fittest and fastest was Pele...

 

[CQDog]

Fittest and fastest was Pele...

Fastest order placer at the chipper this pre season