Stat of Origin: Who holds the edge in pace race

Speed, as they say, can't be coached.

And it's one area where the Blues have an undeniable edge over the Maroons heading into the State of Origin series opener on June 5.

Telstra Tracker data reveals the three fastest players on the park will be NSW left-edge players headed by Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr, who has scorched the turf at 38.5km/h this season.

Next best is Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell, who has hit 36.6km/h and third best of the 34 players on show next Wednesday is Mitchell's teammate James Tedesco, who loves chiming into sweeping left-side moves.

The likely Queensland right-edge defence of Daly Cherry-Evans, Will Chambers and Dane Gagai will have their hands full.

Chambers has one of the highest speeds recorded by a Maroon this year with 34.4km/h (left winger Corey Oates at 35.2km/h and fullback Kalyn Ponga at 35.5km/h are ahead of him).

David Fifita and Boyd Cordner share the billing of fastest forward on show at 32.9km/h but four of the next five fastest forwards are all Blues, in Tyson Frizell (31.5km/h), Angus Crichton (31.4km/h), Payne Haas (30.9km/h) and Cam Murray (30.8km/h) with Felise Kaufusi (31.2km/h) in the middle of them.

Top speed is hardly a key metric when ranking middle forwards but the fact the Blues have the faster edge forwards, faster middle forwards, faster halves (Cody Walker's 33.6km/h is the best of the four on show) and faster outside backs will keep the Queenslanders well and truly on their toes.