The NRL is planning to stage a “mini-Olympics” on grand final day, culminating in a race to crown the game’s fastest man over 100 metres.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo outlined the proposal to club bosses during a video conference last week, one that will end the debate about the identity of rugby league’s top speedster.
While the details are still being finalised, the proposal is for a series of events – which could include a goalkicking competition, a fastest forward sprint and a kick-off to identify the biggest boot in the NRL – to enhance the grand final experience for fans. However, the centrepiece would be a match race between league’s fastest men, akin to the one held before the AFL decider.
Dubbed the “mini-Olympics” by some club chief executives, it would provide the governing body a new product to commercialise, as well as a chance for the game’s biggest names to supplement their pay packets and earn bragging rights.
If sponsors can be sourced in time, the inaugural event could be held on 2024 grand final day. Due to the short lead-up times, the first iteration may just be limited to the 100-metre race, although the plan is for other events to be added over time.
Jason Saab and fellow winger Josh Addo-Carr pose up for a mock sprint trial.Credit: SMH
The initiative could result in a sprint featuring the biggest names in the game, including Reece Walsh, Josh Addo-Carr, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Jahream Bula. Stars playing in the grand final would be unavailable.
While the clubs are keen for more details, those spoken to by this masthead were open to the idea.
“We’re in the business of entertaining our fans and creating life-long memories,” Canterbury chief executive Aaron Warburton said. “I have no doubt the race to find the fastest male and female athlete on grand final day would be a huge success.”
Renowned sprint coach Roger Fabri nominated Tolutau Koula, Jason Saab, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Kaeo Weekes, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Walsh, Addo-Carr, Tabuai-Fidow, Bula and Dominic Young as the 10 speed merchants he would like to see on the starting line.
“The public have been crying out for this for so long,” Fabri said.
“I dare say there would be people who would attend the grand final just to watch the race. The public is going to go crazy because at some stage you may get three or four different people leading the race in different areas. For example, I could see Walsh being in front at the 30-metre mark, then the ‘Foxx’ [Addo-Carr] taking the lead, Koula applying heavy pressure in the middle and then someone like Saab swooping over the top of them all.
“How can that not be exciting?”
According to information provided by the Telstra Tracker – which uses GPS data to determine a player’s top speed – Cronulla’s Mulitalo moved the quickest last season with a maximum of 37.188km/h. However, a match race would eliminate variables such as carrying a football or a speedster only moving as fast as they needed to score a try.
Asked to predict the first three finishers, Fabri tipped Saab to edge out Tabuai-Fidow, with Khan-Pereira coming in third.
“I’d stake my reputation on Saab winning the race,” Fabri said. “He has worked with me extensively and he understands how to put a race together and hold his composure.
“He would be unbeatable at the back end.”
Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould, speaking on the Six Tackles with Gus podcast, said a match race would capture the imagination.
“I think the fans would love it,” Gould said. “Now we couldn’t put Josh out there because he’s the fastest man on the planet. That wouldn’t be fair. I’d tell Josh to do a Jerry Seinfeld: ‘I choose not to run.’”
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