Stat Attack: Johnston draws level with Coates in sprint stakes

Rabbitohs flyer Alex Johnston has joined Brisbane's Xavier Coates and Melbourne's Josh Addo-Carr in the race to be crowned the NRL's fastest man this season.

Broncos winger Coates overtook Addo-Carr's 2020 high of 36.8km/h when the young gun was clocked at 36.9km/h while streaking away for an intercept try in last Thursday's loss to Newcastle.

But Coates's clear lead atop the sprinting stakes lasted just one day.

Johnston drew level with the 19-year-old in his team's win over the Warriors on Friday, also recording 36.9km/h according to the Telstra Tracker.

Addo-Carr didn't play in round six due to the birth of his child.

But the "Foxx" still holds the overall Telstra Tracker speed record with the 38.5km/h he registered in 2019.

North Queensland rookie Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (35.7km/h), Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown (34.8) and Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (34.5) also made the top five for maximum speeds last round.

Other Telstra Tracker data showed that Titans back Brian Kelly completed the most high-speed efforts (bursts of 20km/h or more) with 36 in his side's loss to St George Illawarra.

Dragons winger Jordan Pereira (33 high-speed efforts), Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (31), Cowboys centre Justin O'Neill (31) and Eels captain Clint Gutherson (30) trailed Kelly.

Meanwhile, Sharks halfback Chad Townsend would have slept soundly after beating the Bulldogs on Sunday night having covered 9.5km across 80 minutes.

Panthers No.7 Nathan Cleary (9.4km), Cronulla hooker Blayke Brailey (9.3km), 37-year-old Storm rake Cameron Smith (9.1) and Parramatta general Mitchell Moses (9.1) also racked up some mileage.