Addo-Carr officially fastest man in Origin ahead of Roberts and Cook

Short of a foot race you could charge admission for, this is as official as it gets.

Josh Addo-Carr is the fastest man in the NRL and this year's State of Origin series, pipping teammate James Roberts in what is arguably the quickest backline in Blues history.

NRL.com can reveal Addo-Carr clocked an astounding 37.1 km/h as his top in-game speed this season according to Telstra Tracker technology, scorching the Suncorp Stadium turf during Melbourne's double-header clash with the Titans earlier this month.

Roberts cranked up to 36.2 km/h in Brisbane's season-opening loss to the Dragons, while NSW's livewire rookie rake Damien Cook can also motor, surprisingly coming in at third place among the recorded data for Origin players – reaching a max in-game speed of 35.28 km/hr for the Rabbitohs against Penrith.

Of course, players are rarely able to truly hit the afterburners in rugby league's close quarters, with a player's ability to accelerate and maintain speed through contact the type of pace coaches truly crave.

Still, the longer form numbers compare well with speedsters across the sporting world.

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, for example, has been timed at 36.9 km/h, while AFL speedsters Toby Greene (GWS Giants) and Jarman Impey (Port Adelaide) both hit 35.3 km/h during last year's finals.

Usain Bolt remains light years ahead of all comers, clocked at a world record 44.72 km/hr as the fastest top speed recorded by a human in 2009.

The unprecedented access to players' Telstra Tracker data only adds weight to the belief this NSW back five is as quick as any over the years, with winger Tom Trbojevic also pushing past the 34 km/h mark this year.

James Tedesco was tracked at 33.3 km/h in Origin last year and NRL.com understands Mitchell only just sits behind Tedesco and Blake Ferguson in the pace stakes at Roosters training.

Addo-Carr has worked with renowned sprint trainer Roger Fabri and former Olympian Adam Basil recently in a bid to get even quicker, and is itching to unleash his greatest asset on the game's biggest stage next Wednesday night.

"There's speed to burn isn't there? This is the first time I've played with Jimmy (Roberts) and Latrell, I'm so excited by the backline especially," Addo-Carr told NRL.com.

"I've never really tested myself too much in terms of speed since high school, I'd like to though. I do some specific stuff with Adam Basil focusing on acceleration and technique mostly, anything that gets me to the try line quicker.

"Moving up levels in footy, through SG Ball, Harold Matts and then 20s and first grade, each level has new training and I keep noticing myself getting faster with more strength and improvement."

Queensland's three-quarter line hardly lags behind their NSW counterparts, with three-quarters Will Chambers (max speed of 34.3 km/h), Greg Inglis and Dane Gagai (both reaching 34.2 km/h this year) all able to motor.

Sharks flyer Valentine Holmes was also clocked at 32.2 km/h against the Dragons earlier this year, while Billy Slater has always been one of the Telstra Premiership's quickest across the ground even though he's in his twilight years.

Scarily, Coen Hess is right up there too, having cranked his 190cm, 110kg frame up to 33.2 km/h against the Titans earlier this year.

Among the NSW big men the likes of Tyson Frizell (a top speed of 32.3 km/h) Angus Crichton (32.76 km/h) and Jake Trbojevic (31.3 km/h) have some serious toe for their size, as well as plenty of stamina to match.

Of the forwards on either side of the state divide, these three boppers are the only ones to average over 7km total running each game in 2018.

The 7.896km a game that Crichton covers is the most of any man involved in game one, while Trbojevic can lay claim to one of the most gut-busting efforts of the year – churning out 9.128 km of running against Newcastle in round one as he played the full 89 minutes in an extra-time loss, amassing 52 tackles without a single miss.

Witness Australia's greatest sporting rivalry when Origin comes to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday, June 6. Bronze tickets available from $49 here.