X-factor: Coates dethrones Addo-Carr as NRL's fastest player

Brisbane young gun Xavier Coates has dethroned Josh Addo-Carr as the fastest player in the NRL, hitting a new season-high speed in Thursday night's loss to Newcastle.

According to Telstra Tracker data, the 19-year-old winger clocked 36.9km/h when he latched onto an intercept pass and ran the length of the field to score the Broncos' only try in the 27-6 loss at Central Coast Stadium.

The Papua New Guinea-born teenager's blistering effort eclipsed Addo-Carr's season record of 36.8km/h set in round two of the Telstra Premiership in Melbourne's win over Cronulla at Kogarah.

It's a much-needed dose of good news for the Broncos who have slumped to 12th after the loss to Newcastle, their fourth straight defeat.

Coates and Addo-Carr are the undisputed top two pacesetters for 2020 - Gold Coast's Phillip Sami and Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt are the only other two players who have clocked more than 35km/h.

Sami recorded 35.7km/h in round two and Feldt 35.3km/h in North Queensland's opening match of the season.