All-star sprint race: Sport stars set to challenge NRL’s fastest
Who can beat Josh Addo-Carr in a footrace? Sprint guru Roger Fabri wants that question answered and has formulated a plan to pit some of Australia’s fastest athletes against each other.
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There are plans to pit the fastest athletes against each other which could see the likes of speedsters Josh Addo-Carr, Bronson Xerri, James Tedesco and David Warner compete in a cross-code challenge.
Renowned sprint coach Roger Fabri has formulated the idea to have 16 of the best athletes compete in a head to head challenge before crowning the ultimate sports speedster. The likes of Addo-Carr, Xerri and Warner are already part of Fabri’s stable with the two NRL players spending time with Fabri this week.
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“My idea is very similar to a contender series,” Fabri said. “I’m quite fortunate the top athletes train with me, I should be able to get an audience. I have 16 coaches so I can meet the government protocol. The fans will really like it.
“I will give you a private coach free of charge for three weeks. You’ll train with them two or three times a week. Then at the end I will match you up head to head in a race over 70 metres. It’s going to be exciting.”
Among the most scintillating match-ups would be Addo-Carr against Xerri.
Fabri did a 70 metre time-trial with the pair this week with Addo-Carr pipping Xerri by just 0.03 seconds.
“(Xerri) is sharper than what you think,” Fabri said. “He is exciting. I’m wondering if (Addo-Carr) has the strength to back it up and back it up again.
“It’s going to be a series so guys who have good motors and repeated efforts such as Tedesco will go well. If they win their race they will go through to an elimination series on the same day.”
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Xerri was put through his paces alongside Roosters halfback Kyle Flanagan. The Cronulla Sharks flyer said he was confident he could overcome Addo-Carr.
“I would like to back myself but he is the fastest in the NRL,” Xerri said. “His speed is unreal. If I can get a second quicker than I already am it would be a massive bonus.
“I would like to think (I can get him).”
Fabri said he wants to put cricket star Warner up against Australian hooker Damien Cook.
“They have that same explosiveness and body stature,” Fabri said. “If some A-League or AFL players want to hit me up they are more than welcome.”
Flanagan, who tested his former Sharks teammate Xerri in some of the shorter distance sprints, could line-up against South Sydney skipper Adam Reynolds.
“In a game you don’t get to (race) anyone one-on-one,” Flanagan said. “I should call Matt Moylan and give him a run.”