‘One of the fastest NRL players he’s ever seen’: Manly’s Jason Saab’s freakish sprint

Phil Gould take note — a new contender for the “fastest man on the planet” has made a Warriors winger look like he was standing still.

What a way to score your first try for a new club.

Where is Gus Gould when you need him?

Fresh off the “fastest man on the planet” Josh Addo-Carr being stood up last week by Xavier Coates, Manly’s Jason Saab has entered his name into the race for the NRL’s fastest man.

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The Sea Eagles had been having the most Sea Eagles of starts against a flat New Zealand Warriors side who have been greeted with the news they will be able to go home.

But from a scrum 30m out from their own line, Daly Cherry-Evans kicked from the scrum base on the first tackle.

There was no need to go for the 40-20 with his main advantage out on the wing.

New recruit Saab made up 10m on Warriors winger Ken Maumalo in within 20m and easily outsprinted the Warriors flyer.

Fox league commentator Matt Russell said “What foot race? It ended up a one-horse race.”

League great Steve Roach called it “a gutsy play” but said the Sea Eagles had been kicking early throughout the game.

“He did that in a canter,” he added.

Russell said “There’s a big day of Sydney racing tomorrow Steven, can I nominate Jason Saab for one of them right now.”

“I’ll tell you what, he can run can’t he,” Roach said.

Jason Saab made Ken Maumalo look like he was standing still.

And he easily won the race.

While the comparisons to Addo-Carr may appear to be premature with the pair not head to head, the speed was quickly put into context.

On the sideline, Jake Duke said Saab would be up with the quickest players of all-time.

“He actually set the fastest (speed) for a player recorded since Josh Addo-Carr in 2019, 37.5km/h,” he said. “He did a lot of work with renowned sprint coach Roger Fabri in the off season and he considers him one of the fastest NRL players he’s ever seen. He said in training, he keeps up with national sprinters over 60m. That just tells you how fast Jason Saab is. Even more impressive, he’s 199cm as well.”

Frankly, there’s only one way to settle this — take a leaf out of the AFL’s book and settle this with a footrace.

More Porsche than Saab, there.

— David Riccio (@DaveRic1) April 9, 2021

So, Jason Saab is pretty fast#NRLWarriorsManly

— TAB Sport (@TAB_Sport) April 9, 2021

While the Sea Eagles had been denied with knock ons from Jake Trbojevic and Lachlan Croker, the score finally opened the scoring.

It was the first time this season the Sea Eagles have been in front.

But the Warriors hit straight back through Maumalo to make it 6-all at halftime.

The armwrestle continued in the second half and despite losing Dylan Walker through injury, the Sea Eagles came out on top after Daly Cherry-Evans broke Warriors hearts.