Catapult stats tracker: the season so far

20 Jul 2023

With just eight rounds of the 2023 Betfred Super League regular season remaining, the competition is wide open. Players are fighting tooth and nail for every inch as the race for the top six and fight for survival intensify.

Over the past five months, we have seen unmatched athleticism, lightning-fast pace and superhuman work ethic - and Catapult Sports have collated the standout stats as we look back on a whirlwind season so far.

The need for speed in rugby league is paramount. Game-breaking plays often stem from bursts of pace against fatigued defensive lines. Matty Ashton has become renowned for his pace and ability to break opposition defences through the eye of a needle. The Warrington winger has made 18 clean breaks this season - the second most across Super League.

Unsurprisingly, Ashton also boasts the fastest recorded speed in 2023. The England international clocked a breakneck speed of 36.41km/h during the Wolves clash with Huddersfield Giants earlier this season. Ashton showing there's no substitute for pace - proven by his ability to hit huge speeds on a consistent basis. He has reached a top speed of 33km/h or more in nine games this season - more than any other player in the competition.

Saints' flyer Tee Ritson sits just behind Ashton in the speed charts thanks to a 36.06km/h effort against Hull FC in Round 16. Ritson burst onto the scene during his time at Championship side Barrow Raiders - and has shown plenty of potential in his maiden season in the top flight.

Corey Hall - who joined Hull KR mid-way through the 2023 season - clocked a top speed of 35.38km/h during a tough away defeat to table topping Catalans Dragons. The versatile Hall sits third in the top speed charts in 2023, narrowly ahead of Wigan's Jai Field and Huddersfield's Kevin Naiqama, who both share a top speed of 35.19km/h.

Maverick half-back Mikey Lewis is renowned for his off-the-cuff style and eye-catching skill. But the Hull KR youngster also has an unrivalled work rate - he boasts the record for most distance covered in a single game this season, covering 9.58km during Hull KR's golden point defeat against Wigan Warriors in Round 13.

And Lewis also sits in the top 10 high speeds in 2023 - he hit an impressive maximum velocity of 35.08km/h during the Robins' Derby Day demolition of Hull FC in Rivals Round.

You've voted @hullkrofficial's @mikeylewis32 as the April @GlensVodkaLLG Player of the Month ?

What a #SuperLeague season the Robins half-back is having ? pic.twitter.com/An46VuRtew
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) May 3, 2023

Catalans young gun Cesar Rouge covered the second highest distance (9.53km) in Round 2 against Leigh Leopards, whilst Hull KR pair Tom Opacic (9.26km) and Jez Litten(9.24km) covered the third and fourth most distance in a single game respectively. This again occurred during the Robins' Round 13 golden point tie with Wigan, showing that despite the loss, the player's efforts never faltered.

Youngsters Davy Litten and Will Pryce lead the way on the intensity charts in 2023. They both recorded an impressive season high intensity score of 110 metres per minute - Litten in Round 9 and Pryce in Round 2. Showing that despite a lack of experience, the young pair bring bundles of energy and enthusiasm whenever they step foot on the field.

On the other end of the age spectrum, it's an experienced trio that occupy the remaining three spots in the top five of the intensity charts. Huddersfield and Hull FC player's again feature, with Nathan Peats and Theo Fages (107 metres/minute) sitting in joint third for their efforts in Round 2, whilst Hull FC stalwart Danny Houghton is close behind with an intensity rating of 106 metres/minute in Rounds 5 and 12.

Saints' superstar Jack Welsby leads the competition in high-speed efforts after 19 rounds of action. The two-time Super League Young Player of the Year - who is an ever-present for Saints so far in 2023 - has hit the high-speed threshold of 25.2km/h 186 times this season, averaging 10 high speed efforts per game.

It doesn't get much better than that ?@Saints1890 @jackwelsby_ with a huge tackle ?#SLStHWig pic.twitter.com/XjywYt7rNq
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) June 9, 2023

Welsby's former teammate Kevin Naiqama is close behind, registering 182 high speed efforts so far this year. Bevan French (167) sits in third, with Matt Dufty (133) and Adam Swift (128) completing the top five.