Skip to content

NRL statistic

NRL play-the-ball speed

The average time taken to play the ball after a tackle. Lower means faster.

Statistics for
View as
Period
Order

Team play-the-ball speed — last five matches

Updated through Finals Week 2, 2026.

17 results

Lower times indicate a faster play-the-ball.

  1. North Queensland Cowboys Team3.26s Opponents3.54s
  2. St George Illawarra Dragons Team3.29s Opponents3.41s
  3. New Zealand Warriors Team3.34s Opponents3.40s
  4. Dolphins Team3.37s Opponents3.36s
  5. Parramatta Eels Team3.37s Opponents3.31s
  6. Penrith Panthers Team3.40s Opponents3.54s
  7. Wests Tigers Team3.40s Opponents3.46s
  8. Sydney Roosters Team3.40s Opponents3.37s
  9. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Team3.41s Opponents3.39s
  10. Canberra Raiders Team3.47s Opponents3.45s
  11. Gold Coast Titans Team3.48s Opponents3.55s
  12. South Sydney Rabbitohs Team3.50s Opponents3.39s
  13. Newcastle Knights Team3.50s Opponents3.54s
  14. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Team3.52s Opponents3.39s
  15. Melbourne Storm Team3.58s Opponents3.67s
  16. Brisbane Broncos Team3.61s Opponents3.53s
  17. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Team3.63s Opponents3.44s

NRL team average: 3.44s

North Queensland Cowboys have the fastest play-the-ball speed at 3.26s, compared with the NRL team average of 3.44s.

About the data

Rankings use up to each team's five most recent matches or each player's five most recent appearances. The latest season and round included are shown with every result.

A Last 5 result requires at least three available values in that five-match or five-appearance window.

When MatchFit does not have a value for a match or appearance, that record is left out of the average.

Recent players are those who appeared in one of the latest 5 rounds covered by the data.

Use the club and position filters to narrow the player list. The filters do not change which appearances are used in each player's value.

The season view averages the available current-season matches and appearances.