Two worlds collide as NRL stats leaders face off

One is a diminutive fullback with fancy footwork and speed to burn. The other is a hulking front rower who steamrolls opposition defenders for fun. 

Together they are the NRL’s leaders in post-contact metres and their games couldn’t be more different.  

On Saturday Jye Gray and Addin Fonua-Blake will go head-to-head in a unique clash of styles when the Rabbitohs take on Cronulla at Sharks Stadium.  

Gray tops the leaderboard for both running metres and post-contact metres, with 592m and 190m respectively.  

Fonua-Blake sits second with 154 post-contact metres and his 331 running metres are the equal third highest by a forward.

The stats are a direct reflection of the prop's instant impact since his arrival in the Shire.

Fonua-Blake said he doesn't specifically chase post-contact metres but views it as a sign he's doing his job as a middle forward.

"It's a good stat to have," Fonua-Blake said. "I'm trying to insert myself into the game early and get some metres for the boys. I'll take them however I can get them. 

"I'm a bigger body so I can get the ball rolling but I've got to keep working hard and make sure I don't take my foot off the throttle because there'll be a lot of teams trying to rectify that."

He may tip the scales at 123 kilograms, but Fonua-Blake boasts impressive footwork and agility for a big man. 

The prop has the ability to produce a late piece of footwork metres before reaching the defensive line, allowing him to wrong foot opponents and poke his head through the line.

Fonua-Blake's teammates are the biggest beneficiaries of this skill, with Fonua-Blake able to generate quick play the balls and build forward momentum for subsequent plays.

Centre Kayal Iro has quickly learnt the importance of staying alive when the prop has the ball in hand and said the retreating defenders has opened up opportunities for the backs to strike.

"He's bringing a lot of confidence to us as a club," Iro told NRL.com. "The way he brings the ball back and his late footwork at the line is deadly.

"For a big boy to be able to move like that is scary, I wouldn't want to be the one defending him so it's cool to have him at the club."

At the opposite end of the physical scale is Rabbitohs fullback Jye Gray, a 78kg, 170cm featherweight.

While many fear he is too small for the NRL, the 21-year-old's performances through the opening two rounds have gone a long way to silencing those critics. 

He may be one of the smallest players in the competition, but those who have played against him quickly learn not to take him lightly.  

After making his NRL debut last year, the youngster was thrust into the Rabbitohs No.1 jumper on the eve of the season when Latrell Mitchell injured his hamstring at training.  

While Gray's attacking stats jump off the page, South Sydney skipper Cody Walker said his defensive impact is just as important. 

"We all saw what he was capable of last year," Walker said. "One of the things I love about Jye is he wants the footy. He's always in my ear about just getting him the footy and it's a great indication for young kids that they're ready to go. As an old five-eighth, you've just got to give them the ball and he just does what he does. 

"The thing that gets underestimated with Jye is his defence and his ability to stop tries. [Christian] Tuipulotu made a clean break [last weekend] and he just grabbed him around the ankles. Being that tiny, him just getting his body there to stop some tries gets underestimated a little bit. 

"He's going unreal and he's shown that since he's been at the club that he's just a tough little lad who gets in there and has a crack."

Gray boasts the unique mix of speed, footwork and ruggedness that allows him to break a game open in an instant.

It’s a skillset that has the Sharks on high alert as they prepare to host the Rabbitohs on Sunday.  

Gray ran for 151m, made three linebreaks, 12 tackles busts and scored a try when the two teams faced off in Round 22 last season. Cronulla won the match but the players have not forgotten how difficult the youngster was to handle.  

While they’re determined to avoid focusing too much on one player, Iro said the Sharks must hunt as a pack to contain the Rabbitohs fullback.

"We just need more bodies around him," Iro said. "We can't really go at him one out because he just skittles out or bounces off you.

"He's just a little nugget and is so powerful, he always beats the first defender. We need numbers around him, that's the best way to shut him down."