After a slow start to the season, Josh Addo-Carr is starting to hit top gear in his new colours with the Bulldogs recruit lighting up the Telstra Tracker data following his side's big upset in Round 8.
Having crossed for five tries in the past three games, Addo-Carr produced arguably his best performance of the season against the Sydney Roosters last week, nabbing his side's first two tries of the game — including a spectacular runaway intercept.
With his blinding speed, it was little surprise to therefore see the Blues Origin star dominate the sprint distance data from Round 8 — running for 252 metres at a speed greater than 25 kilometres per hour, significantly more than any other player.
Storm winger Nick Meaney came in second in that department (225 metres) after a strong performance in his side's win over Newcastle while Sharks flyer Ronaldo Mulitalo (217 metres) rounded out the top three with another consistent effort.
Flying Foxx had a night out
Addo-Carr's efforts weren't limited to that one run, however, with the winger finishing second for high speed distance — running for 680 metres in total at a speed greater than 20 kilometres per hour. Only Knights centre Bradman Best (729 metres) finished above Addo-Carr in Round 8, with Broncos fullback Te Maire Martin (661 metres) an interesting third place finisher in that department.
North Queensland's stunning upset over the Parramatta Eels in Darwin might have turned a few heads as to the Cowboys' credentials this season, and coach Todd Payten would have again been thrilled with the effort his side produced — in conditions above 30 degrees, no less.
Quick fix: Eels v Cowboys
Cowboys trio Tom Dearden (9424 metres), Reuben Cotter (9188 metres) and Chad Townsend (9177 metres) covered more ground than any other players in the competition, with Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary the only other player to record more than nine kilometres of total distance.
Cotter's efforts, in particular, stand out with the Maroons hopeful also making a game high 54 tackles and 137 running metres in his 80-minute effort.
Telstra Tracker: NRL Round 8
Maximum Velocity
- Xavier Savage (Raiders) — 36.7 km/h
- Kalyn Ponga (Knights) — 36.6 km/h
- Viliame Vailea (Warriors) — 35.4 km/h
Total Distance
- Tom Dearden (Cowboys) — 9424 metres
- Reuben Cotter (Cowboys) — 9188 metres
- Chad Townsend (Cowboys) — 9177 metres
High Speed Distance (metres > 20 km/h)
- Bradman Best (Knights) — 729 metres
- Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs) — 680 metres
- Te Maire Martin (Broncos) — 661 metres
Sprint Distance (metres > 25 km/h)
- Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs) — 252 metres
- Nick Meaney (Storm) — 225 metres
- Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks) — 217 metres