Telstra Tracker data reveals which NRL players cover the most ground during matches

Tyrell Sloan has been a figure of derision at times at St George Illawarra but Telstra Tracker numbers reveal the Dragons No. 1 is one of the fittest players in the game. Every club’s NRL ironman revealed.

NRL Telstra Tracker data reveals the league’s hardest working players.

The whipping boy has become the running man. Tyrell Sloan has been a figure of derision at times at St George Illawarra but statistics obtained by News Corp have revealed that the Dragons No. 1 is one of the fittest players in the game.

Exclusive News Corp analysis of the NRL’s official GPS tracking data has revealed that Sloan (9.16 kilometres) averages more metres per game than any player in the premiership other than North Queensland playmaker Tim Dearden (9.2km).

It shapes as a significant feather in Sloan’s cap as he finds himself in a dogfight to retain the No. 1 jersey at St George Illawarra next season.

Freshly-minted coach Shane Flanagan is ready to conduct an open battle for the fullback spot and Sloan will begin the season as the leading contender, although he won’t have it all his own way as Flanagan spends the pre-season assessing his options.

Remarkably, he has emerged as one of the hardest workers in the NRL according to the Telstra Tracker, giving his chances of holding onto the custodian role a boost heading into the pre-season.

Only one player covers more distance than Tyrell Sloan. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Sloan is currently sidelined with ankle and hand injuries but is expected to be ready to resume training in December as he looks to prepare for the most important pre-season of his career — not only is he locked in a fight for the No. 1 jersey, but he must prove he deserves a new deal at the club.

Sloan entered the final year of his contract on November 1.

“That’s a real positive,” Flanagan said.

“We need to sharpen up his movement to make it more valuable – sometimes it might be wasted – and make sure he is in position all the time.

“At least we know he can do it. He’s injured at the moment with the ankle syndesmosis he did at the Koori Knockout and he had a thumb injury which he aggravated as well.

“He has his arm in plaster but he’ll be back running week two in December.”

Dragons general manager of football Ben Haran added: “It’s no surprise that Tyrell covers huge metres in an NRL game. He is a naturally gifted and efficient runner and will only continue to improve under our coaches.”

Sloan faces the most important pre-season of his NRL career. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Asked about Sloan’s contractual status at the club, Flanagan said it was always his plan to take control of the club in November before kicking off talks with the fullback along with centre Moses Suli and back rower Jaydn Su’A.

However, the Dragons have also outlined plans to be among the big movers in the off-season as they head into the new year with plenty of salary cap space and an appetite to use it.

Some of the biggest names in the game are on the radar headlined by Sydney Roosters star Joey Manu, Brisbane playmaker Ezra Mam and North Queensland half Tom Dearden.

It would take a mammoth offer to convince Manu and Mam to consider leaving the Roosters and Broncos while Dearden has an offer on the table from the Cowboys but has indicated he will test his value on the open market.

BELOW: EVERY CLUB’S NRL IRONMAN REVEALED

He has been hailed as the brains behind Penrith’s premiership threepeat and now fresh data has revealed just how valuable Nathan Cleary has been to the Panthers juggernaut.

Exclusive News Corp analysis of the NRL’s official GPS tracking data revealed the Penrith halfback and skipper averaged more metres per game in 2023 than all but two players in the NRL – Cowboys five-eighth Tom Dearden and St George Illawarra fullback Tyrell Sloan.

The NRL’s Telstra Tracker captured the data of all 502 players to take the field this season, singling out the top three at each club for special attention.

Cleary was far and away the leader at the Panthers and finished on the podium across the premiership, averaging 9.15 kilometres per game. Only Dearden (9.2km) and Sloan (9.16km) could hold a candle to the Panthers talisman.

Nathan Cleary splits the Broncos defence during the NRL decider.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE HARDEST WORKER AT YOUR CLUB

Remarkably, age has not wearied Luke Keary (9km) after the Sydney Roosters five-eighth – who entered the final year of his deal on November 1 – was one of only four players to surpass the nine kilometre barrier.

The top five was rounded out by the Melbourne Storm’s young half Jonah Pezet (8.95km), who showed his work ethic in the handful of games he played in the NRL.

Analysis of the speed and endurance across the NRL has revealed that:

North Queensland hooker Reece Robson covers more metres per game than any other forward in the NRL;

Cronulla’s Blake Brailey is the game’s hardest working hooker, averaging 8.9km per game;

Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak averages more high speed metres than any other player in the NRL;

Luke Keary has been revealed as one of the NRL’s workhorses. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Jason Saab, Josh Addo-Carr, Selwun Cobbo and Rocco Berry round out the top three when it comes to maintaining speed over 25 metres or more; and

Cleary, however, has been the glue that has held the Panthers together during their premiership run through not just skill and class, but also via sheer hard work.

He has become the premier halfback and arguably player in the game thanks to a tireless work ethic that is reflected in the way he keeps on running when others have run out of steam.

His refusal to stop was exemplified in the grand final against Brisbane when he exploded in the final 20 minutes, inspiring one of the great grand final comebacks as the Panthers completed their three-peat.

The other two players who cracked the list at Penrith should come as no surprise. Fullback Dylan Edwards is Penrith’s energiser bunny and averaged more than 8.7km per game while five-eighth Jarome Luai was the Panthers’ next best with an average of 8.45km.

Neither could compete with Cleary, who has managed to complement his football nous with an unbelievable capacity to keep working when others have run out of steam.

“Part of his game right from when he started was that he would push on everything, whether it was defence or support or chase,” Penrith legend and board member Greg Alexander said.

“They are those little effort areas that might no unnoticed to the general observer but you know how important they are for the team.

“Between that and swinging to both sides of the ruck, you can easily see how the numbers add up pretty quick.

“They’re all fit. There is no-one not fit. But he is in the top few at the club.”

The top 10 across the NRL was dominated by halves. Dearden’s halves partner Chad Townsend (8.9km), claimed sixth spot ahead of Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey (8.9km) and half Nicho Hynes (8.87km).

Roosters centre Billy Smith (8.89km) was next best as he made his latest return from injury to become a fixture in their backline while Broncos superstar Ezra Mam completed the top 10.

Originally published as Telstra Tracker data reveals which NRL players cover the most ground during matches