After considering the speed possessed by the members of Manly’s back line, renowned sprint coach Roger Fabri sums it up thus:
“In a 4×100-metre relay, if they dropped the baton, they could still pick it up and win.”
The Sea Eagles have at their disposal Jason Saab, Reuben Garrick, Tolutau Koula and Tom Trbojevic. New signings Luke Brooks and Jaxson Paulo are no slouches either, giving coach Anthony Seibold speed to burn in 2024.
Which prompts the question: Is this the fastest back line ever assembled?
“I’ve been around a long time, it would have to be the fastest backline in rugby league that ever existed,” said Fabri, who has personally coached Saab and Garrick.
The numbers certainly suggest as much. According to data obtained by the Telstra Tracker last season, Saab registered a maximum game speed of 37.10 kilometres per hour in 2023, Garrick 35.64km/h and Koula 35.03km/h. The only player to have clocked a faster pace than Saab was Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, who hit 37.18km/h.
The Manly speed merchants
- Jason Saab, max speed (km/h): 37.1
- Reuben Garrick, max speed (km/h): 35.6
- Tolutau Koula, max speed (km/h): 35.0
Based on Tesltra Tracker game data from 2023 NRL season
Injuries have dogged Trbojevic – who famously lost a sprint race to a mystery punter known only as “Harry” down the Manly Corso that was captured on mobile phone footage in 2021 – but the superstar fullback is also capable of mixing it with the quickest in the game when fully fit.
“When you look at our weapons, we have got genuine speed,” said Seibold, who is crafting game plans to take advantage.
Whether the speed merchants get many opportunities to in their historic clash against the Rabbitohs at Allegiant Stadium – which is five metres skinnier than a standard rugby league field – remains to be seen. However, there will be no catching them if they find open space.
The Sea Eagles don’t time players over the traditional 40-metre sprint. Instead, they focus on metres per second, with Garrick clocking a 10. Garrick reckons Saab is at around the 10.4-metre mark.
Tolutau Koula is a genuine speedster.Credit: NRL Photos
“I think we are, for sure,” Garrick said when asked if Manly possess the fastest outside backs in the game.
“We have a little pact between us; we think we are. It would be cool to show the comp that this year. Hopefully, we can be a really exciting team to watch this year, that’s our goal.
“If we get into space, we all back ourselves to score tries. That’s something we’ve tried to bring into this year for sure with our game play. That’s the plan, and we just hope we can execute it on game day. If our forwards are doing well, it gives us a chance to do that.”
Paulo was considered one of the fastest in the team during his stints at the Rabbitohs and Roosters, regularly among the Telstra Tracker’s best for high-speed distance (metres above 20 km/h) and sprint distance (metres above 25km/h).
Jason Saab and fellow winger Josh Addo-Carr pose up for a mock sprint trial.Credit: SMH
However, he doesn’t get a look in against the pacesetters on the northern beaches.
“I thought I went alright in the speed category at my last two clubs, and that I had most other players in opposition teams covered,” Paulo recently told the Sea Eagles website.
“But the speed here … I can’t keep up with the amount of talent. The speed is crazy. The boys have certainly hit the ground running. They are lightning on their feet. You only have to look at Tolu [Koula]…it doesn’t even look like he is running. He glides.”
Star forward Jake Trbojevic said it was up to the Manly forward pack to create the room and momentum required to allow the outside backs to capitalise.
“There is obviously a lot of speed there and it’s a great asset to have,” Trbojevic said. “Hopefully they will be able to turn a half chance into a try. It’s cool to have that class.”
Adrian Proszenko’s trip to Las Vegas was funded by the NRL.
