Jason Saab

[Captain Moondog]

Ranking the nine fastest men in the history of Australian rugby league​

One contender is an Olympian, another sprinted in the Commonwealth Games but none of them come close to this man - and he still has gears to go.

Dean Ritchie, Fatima Kdouh and Michael Carayannis


Sydney sprint guru Roger Fabri has boldly predicted that Manly winger Jason Saab will become the fastest player in rugby league’s 113-year history.


And, incredibly, Fabri has claimed he can find another three metres of speed in Saab, who would then be capable of running 100m with an extraordinary top speed of 39km/h.
No other player in rugby league history has hit such sizzling speeds.
“It’s phenomenal,” Fabri said.
Fabri even insisted Saab could reach that dizzy pace by the start of next season.
The leading sprint coach even listed the footy flyers through history who Saab could mow down – namely Ken Irvine, Mike Cleary, Lee Oudenryn, Martin Offiah, Shane Whereat, James Roberts, Darren Clark and Josh Addo-Carr.

Jason Saab still has some gears to go.
Saab, 20, will be ready to blast out of the blocks again in Friday night’s grand final qualifier against South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium.
Fabri predicted Saab — with additional off-season sprint training — could hit 38.5km/h to 39km/h and become the fastest league player ever.
“He will be the fastest footballer that’s ever laced on a boot, the fastest footballer that has ever been. He’s not that far off right now,” Fabri said.
“One thing I can say, and this is obviously my area of expertise, and I’m fortunate to train Saab and ‘Fox’ (Addo-Carr), I feel we still haven’t seen the best of Jason Saab, speed wise.
“My top athletes who run at national level, if they can find a metre in a whole season — and we’re talking at the highest level, even the Olympics — that can be life-changing, but I’m saying Saab can find another three metres.

FOOTY FLYERS - TOP SPEED OVER 100m​

1 Jason Saab (39 km/hr)
2 Josh Addo-Carr (38.1km/hr)
3 Mike Cleary (37.8 km/hr)
4 Ken Irvine (37.7 km/hr)
5 Darren Clark (36.5 km/hr)
6 Shane Whereat (36.1 km/hr)
7 James Roberts (35.9 km/hr)
8 Martin Offiah (35.8 km/hr)
9 Lee Oudenryn (35.7 km/hr)
^ Predicted top speeds and educated opinion of sprint coach Roger Fabri


“That would bring Saab to 38.5km/h to 39km/h. It’s phenomenal. He’s six feet four, and still hasn’t yet maximised that stride length.
“At the end of the day Saab is blessed with genetics, there’s no doubt about that. There are still flaws in his mechanics but he is still young and it is unusual for someone with such tall limbs to create so much force.
“If I can bring more turnover into that fly speed…he is already leaving people for dead, they won’t see him. Imagine that long stride shortened and having that frequency increased to create more force…how much further he’s going to get away from people.
“We can cross-reference him with guys like Shane Whereat and Darren Clark — they were two high flyers.
“Then there’s Martin Offiah, Lee Oudenryn and Jimmy ‘The Jet’ Roberts and Michael Cleary, who represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games.”

Speedster Ken Irvine scored 212 tries in just 236 games.

Darren Clark, who had a stint with Balmain, finished fourth in the 400m at the Los Angeles Olympics.
Asked to predict a 100m race between current stars Saab, Roberts and Addo-Carr, Fabri said: “At the 40 metre mark, I think the ‘Jet’ would be in front, then by the 70 metre mark, ‘Fox’ would be in front but at the 100 metre I think Saab would win.
“‘Jet’ would run last, Fox would run second.”
After combining opinion with research, Fabri drew up a list of the fastest rugby league players – and their speeds – and rated Saab number one. Fabri listed former champion players Cleary and Irvine third and fourth behind Saab and Addo-Carr.
“The reason we got such a good result with Saab last year was that he had that turmoil with St George (last year) and he had a period in a limbo. Because of that, I got to have to nine weeks with him,” Fabri said. “He was coming three days a week.
“If I can get the same amount of time with him this year as I did last year then we’re going to go pretty close to fulfilling the statements I have just made for the start of next season.”
Oudenryn beat Offiah – here touring with the Great Britain squad - in a foot race at Parramatta Stadium during 1992.

Lee Oudenryn (Parramatta, with ball) breaks away from John Plath (L, Brisbane) 17 July 1994

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Very rare air indeed!!

 

[40 nil]

FOOTY FLYERS - TOP SPEED OVER 100m​

1 Jason Saab (39 km/hr)
2 Josh Addo-Carr (38.1km/hr)
3 Mike Cleary (37.8 km/hr)
4 Ken Irvine (37.7 km/hr)
5 Darren Clark (36.5 km/hr)
6 Shane Whereat (36.1 km/hr)
7 James Roberts (35.9 km/hr)
8 Martin Offiah (35.8 km/hr)
9 Lee Oudenryn (35.7 km/hr)
^ Predicted top speeds and educated opinion of sprint coach Roger Fabri

Interesting, but I don't think Saab would be faster than Irvine who ran 100 yards in 9.3 (@ 10.2 for 100 metres).

 

[BOZO]

Very rare air indeed!!

Speed Kills !!!

 

[rmd]

I think may be right Mark as Tolu Koula is reportedly the fastest at Manly and he ran 10.58 last year

 

[pjayz]

Why do people keep saying he is 6'4? He is 6'6 easily. Yes, that is what I took out of that.

They also forgot Darren Albert from the Knights who, until Saab and the Fox came along, was the fastest I had seen.

 

[BOZO]

Ranking the nine fastest men in the history of Australian rugby league​

One contender is an Olympian, another sprinted in the Commonwealth Games but none of them come close to this man - and he still has gears to go.

Dean Ritchie, Fatima Kdouh and Michael Carayannis


Sydney sprint guru Roger Fabri has boldly predicted that Manly winger Jason Saab will become the fastest player in rugby league’s 113-year history.


And, incredibly, Fabri has claimed he can find another three metres of speed in Saab, who would then be capable of running 100m with an extraordinary top speed of 39km/h.
No other player in rugby league history has hit such sizzling speeds.
“It’s phenomenal,” Fabri said.
Fabri even insisted Saab could reach that dizzy pace by the start of next season.
The leading sprint coach even listed the footy flyers through history who Saab could mow down – namely Ken Irvine, Mike Cleary, Lee Oudenryn, Martin Offiah, Shane Whereat, James Roberts, Darren Clark and Josh Addo-Carr.

Jason Saab still has some gears to go.
Saab, 20, will be ready to blast out of the blocks again in Friday night’s grand final qualifier against South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium.
Fabri predicted Saab — with additional off-season sprint training — could hit 38.5km/h to 39km/h and become the fastest league player ever.
“He will be the fastest footballer that’s ever laced on a boot, the fastest footballer that has ever been. He’s not that far off right now,” Fabri said.
“One thing I can say, and this is obviously my area of expertise, and I’m fortunate to train Saab and ‘Fox’ (Addo-Carr), I feel we still haven’t seen the best of Jason Saab, speed wise.
“My top athletes who run at national level, if they can find a metre in a whole season — and we’re talking at the highest level, even the Olympics — that can be life-changing, but I’m saying Saab can find another three metres.

FOOTY FLYERS - TOP SPEED OVER 100m​

1 Jason Saab (39 km/hr)
2 Josh Addo-Carr (38.1km/hr)
3 Mike Cleary (37.8 km/hr)
4 Ken Irvine (37.7 km/hr)
5 Darren Clark (36.5 km/hr)
6 Shane Whereat (36.1 km/hr)
7 James Roberts (35.9 km/hr)
8 Martin Offiah (35.8 km/hr)
9 Lee Oudenryn (35.7 km/hr)
^ Predicted top speeds and educated opinion of sprint coach Roger Fabri


“That would bring Saab to 38.5km/h to 39km/h. It’s phenomenal. He’s six feet four, and still hasn’t yet maximised that stride length.
“At the end of the day Saab is blessed with genetics, there’s no doubt about that. There are still flaws in his mechanics but he is still young and it is unusual for someone with such tall limbs to create so much force.
“If I can bring more turnover into that fly speed…he is already leaving people for dead, they won’t see him. Imagine that long stride shortened and having that frequency increased to create more force…how much further he’s going to get away from people.
“We can cross-reference him with guys like Shane Whereat and Darren Clark — they were two high flyers.
“Then there’s Martin Offiah, Lee Oudenryn and Jimmy ‘The Jet’ Roberts and Michael Cleary, who represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games.”

Speedster Ken Irvine scored 212 tries in just 236 games.

Darren Clark, who had a stint with Balmain, finished fourth in the 400m at the Los Angeles Olympics.
Asked to predict a 100m race between current stars Saab, Roberts and Addo-Carr, Fabri said: “At the 40 metre mark, I think the ‘Jet’ would be in front, then by the 70 metre mark, ‘Fox’ would be in front but at the 100 metre I think Saab would win.
“‘Jet’ would run last, Fox would run second.”
After combining opinion with research, Fabri drew up a list of the fastest rugby league players – and their speeds – and rated Saab number one. Fabri listed former champion players Cleary and Irvine third and fourth behind Saab and Addo-Carr.
“The reason we got such a good result with Saab last year was that he had that turmoil with St George (last year) and he had a period in a limbo. Because of that, I got to have to nine weeks with him,” Fabri said. “He was coming three days a week.
“If I can get the same amount of time with him this year as I did last year then we’re going to go pretty close to fulfilling the statements I have just made for the start of next season.”
Oudenryn beat Offiah – here touring with the Great Britain squad - in a foot race at Parramatta Stadium during 1992.

Lee Oudenryn (Parramatta, with ball) breaks away from John Plath (L, Brisbane) 17 July 1994

Thanks for the very interesting read @Captain Moondog

There is definitely no Saabstitude for Speed

Sea eagles are really meant to fly and Sensational Saab certainly does that well

 

[Remy]

watch when we add Koula to this side, speed is something we've pretty never had, now it's gonna keep coming in

 

[Shoe1]

All very interesting, but we shouldn’t forget gibbsy, Blakey and bozo who were so quick off the mark and over 20-40 metres that they were often untouchable.

 

[BOZO]

I think may be right Mark as Tolu Koula is reportedly the fastest at Manly and he ran 10.58 last year

I can not wait to see TK in our back line

Our backline with TK would be lethal

 

[The Who]

This Fabri bloke is a great self-promoter.
I'm inclined to dismiss much of what he claims.

 

[Shoe1]

This Fabri bloke is a great self-promoter.
I'm inclined to dismiss much of what he claims.

I was suss of his claim about being able to fix turbo earlier this year, and the estimates of past players’ speeds are based on????

 

[ManlyTragic]

What about Larry Corowa?

 

[ManlyTragic]

I can not wait to see TK in our back line

Our backline with TK would be lethal

Can he tackle?

 

[Class of 96]

The speed off the mark is what burns other players, not over the 100m, so that is the area I’d like to see tweaked.

 

[Kevinward777]

Ranking the nine fastest men in the history of Australian rugby league​

One contender is an Olympian, another sprinted in the Commonwealth Games but none of them come close to this man - and he still has gears to go.

Dean Ritchie, Fatima Kdouh and Michael Carayannis


Sydney sprint guru Roger Fabri has boldly predicted that Manly winger Jason Saab will become the fastest player in rugby league’s 113-year history.


And, incredibly, Fabri has claimed he can find another three metres of speed in Saab, who would then be capable of running 100m with an extraordinary top speed of 39km/h.
No other player in rugby league history has hit such sizzling speeds.
“It’s phenomenal,” Fabri said.
Fabri even insisted Saab could reach that dizzy pace by the start of next season.
The leading sprint coach even listed the footy flyers through history who Saab could mow down – namely Ken Irvine, Mike Cleary, Lee Oudenryn, Martin Offiah, Shane Whereat, James Roberts, Darren Clark and Josh Addo-Carr.

Jason Saab still has some gears to go.
Saab, 20, will be ready to blast out of the blocks again in Friday night’s grand final qualifier against South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium.
Fabri predicted Saab — with additional off-season sprint training — could hit 38.5km/h to 39km/h and become the fastest league player ever.
“He will be the fastest footballer that’s ever laced on a boot, the fastest footballer that has ever been. He’s not that far off right now,” Fabri said.
“One thing I can say, and this is obviously my area of expertise, and I’m fortunate to train Saab and ‘Fox’ (Addo-Carr), I feel we still haven’t seen the best of Jason Saab, speed wise.
“My top athletes who run at national level, if they can find a metre in a whole season — and we’re talking at the highest level, even the Olympics — that can be life-changing, but I’m saying Saab can find another three metres.

FOOTY FLYERS - TOP SPEED OVER 100m​

1 Jason Saab (39 km/hr)
2 Josh Addo-Carr (38.1km/hr)
3 Mike Cleary (37.8 km/hr)
4 Ken Irvine (37.7 km/hr)
5 Darren Clark (36.5 km/hr)
6 Shane Whereat (36.1 km/hr)
7 James Roberts (35.9 km/hr)
8 Martin Offiah (35.8 km/hr)
9 Lee Oudenryn (35.7 km/hr)
^ Predicted top speeds and educated opinion of sprint coach Roger Fabri


“That would bring Saab to 38.5km/h to 39km/h. It’s phenomenal. He’s six feet four, and still hasn’t yet maximised that stride length.
“At the end of the day Saab is blessed with genetics, there’s no doubt about that. There are still flaws in his mechanics but he is still young and it is unusual for someone with such tall limbs to create so much force.
“If I can bring more turnover into that fly speed…he is already leaving people for dead, they won’t see him. Imagine that long stride shortened and having that frequency increased to create more force…how much further he’s going to get away from people.
“We can cross-reference him with guys like Shane Whereat and Darren Clark — they were two high flyers.
“Then there’s Martin Offiah, Lee Oudenryn and Jimmy ‘The Jet’ Roberts and Michael Cleary, who represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games.”

Speedster Ken Irvine scored 212 tries in just 236 games.

Darren Clark, who had a stint with Balmain, finished fourth in the 400m at the Los Angeles Olympics.
Asked to predict a 100m race between current stars Saab, Roberts and Addo-Carr, Fabri said: “At the 40 metre mark, I think the ‘Jet’ would be in front, then by the 70 metre mark, ‘Fox’ would be in front but at the 100 metre I think Saab would win.
“‘Jet’ would run last, Fox would run second.”
After combining opinion with research, Fabri drew up a list of the fastest rugby league players – and their speeds – and rated Saab number one. Fabri listed former champion players Cleary and Irvine third and fourth behind Saab and Addo-Carr.
“The reason we got such a good result with Saab last year was that he had that turmoil with St George (last year) and he had a period in a limbo. Because of that, I got to have to nine weeks with him,” Fabri said. “He was coming three days a week.
“If I can get the same amount of time with him this year as I did last year then we’re going to go pretty close to fulfilling the statements I have just made for the start of next season.”
Oudenryn beat Offiah – here touring with the Great Britain squad - in a foot race at Parramatta Stadium during 1992.

Lee Oudenryn (Parramatta, with ball) breaks away from John Plath (L, Brisbane) 17 July 1994

Thanks for posting this mate. It's a good read.

Ps - I have a six pack of your favourite Belgian beer chilling in the bar fridge for tomorrow night.

 

[Kevinward777]

This Fabri bloke is a great self-promoter.
I'm inclined to dismiss much of what he claims.

Yeah, he knows nothin' - just like our coach.

 

[Eagle thru 'n' thru]

Brett Dallas was lightning fast.

 

[wombatgc]

What about Larry Corowa?

Now there’s a man who brought the crowd to their feet. He was blistering.

 

[manlyfan76]

I was suss of his claim about being able to fix turbo earlier this year, and the estimates of past players’ speeds are based on????

The vibe.