Stat attack: Fleet-footed Frizell beats backs in pace race

It's not often a forward can lay claim to being the round's fastest player, but Tyson Frizell left the backs in his dust as he recorded a personal best in-match speed.

The Dragons second-rower reached 34.2km/h during his team's 34-4 thumping of Manly at Kogarah on Sunday night.

St George Illawarra confirmed the data was correct, with Frizell the first forward to head the weekly "max speed" leaderboard in 2020.

The NSW and Australian representative star turned on the afterburners as he chased a Ben Hunt clearing kick in the second half.

Cowboys second-rower Coen Hess is the only other running forward to have made the top five this season. He came fifth in round two with a speed of 33.9km/h.

Frizell outpaced Manly fullback Brendan Elliot (34.1km/h), Dragons teammate Zac Lomax (33.7), Storm livewire Ryan Papenhuyzen and Rabbitohs gun Latrell Mitchell (both 33.4).

Elsewhere, Bulldogs back Nick Meaney recorded the fifth-most high speed efforts (bursts of 20km/h or more) of the year with 39.

Behind Meaney came Papenhuyzen (37 high speed efforts), Eels captain Clint Gutherson (35), Elliot (33) and Raiders fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (32).

Newcastle halfback Mitchell Pearce racked up 9.9km to cover the maximum distance in round nine.

Gutherson (9.7km), Dragons pair Matt Dufty and Adam Clune (both 9.6) and Roosters maestro Luke Keary (9.4) completed the top five.