Number cruncher: Silky Sloan dominates once again

Tyrell Sloan has given Dragons fans further reason to be optimistic about the future after dominating Telstra Tracker leaderboards for the second time in as many NRL matches.

In a rare achievement, the smooth-moving rookie fullback finished first in round 18 for total distance (9.68km), average metres per minute (103.7m) and high-speed distance above 20km/h (761m).

The 19-year-old also ranked fourth for maximum velocity with 35.2km/h - Cowboys flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (36.8km/h) was quickest.

Sloan's performance in last Friday's loss to the Sea Eagles, in which he scored his second first-grade try, followed his impressive Telstra Tracker results during a debut win over the Raiders last month.

In that round, he covered the most distance (9.84km) as well as finishing fourth for high-speed metres (726m).

Those numbers will excite St George Illawarra supporters, with Sloan primed to take over at fullback from the Bulldogs-bound Matt Dufty in 2022.

However, Dufty's return from suspension has relegated Sloan to an extended bench for the round-19 clash with the Titans.

Meanwhile, Warriors fullback Reece Walsh showed that he's well and truly shaken off a hamstring issue by extending out against Penrith to 36km/h, the second-ranked speed of the weekend.

Brisbane's Jamayne Isaako (35.3km/h) and Newcastle's Dominic Young (34.2km/h) also made the top five.

Panthers centre Brent Naden posted 751 high-speed metres while Canterbury's Nick Meaney (733m), Broncos forward Jordan Riki (731m) and Knights back Enari Tuala (725m) also shone.

Roosters halfback Sam Walker, who proved the match-winner against the Cowboys, covered 9.41km in a tireless display.

Warriors No.7 Chad Townsend (9.21km), Eels custodian Clint Gutherson (9.17km) and North Queensland playmaker Tom Dearden (8.9km) were others who barely stopped moving.

Behind Sloan, Eels bench utility Will Smith was next for relative distance with an average of 99.8 metres per minute across 24 minutes.