Gold Coast winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira is keen to test his speed in a foot race with the NRL’s fastest men and is also on the cusp of winning the race to equal a 62-year-old premiership record.
The 22-year-old has 39 tries in 38 games and needs just one more in his next two NRL matches to become the first top-grade player to score 40 tries in his first 40 outings.
Alofiana Khan-Pereira of the Titans runs the ball against Manly.Credit: Getty Images
Former St George speed demon Johnny King achieved the feat in 1962.
Khan-Pereira crossed for a double in the 21-14 win over the Dolphins on Sunday when he blitzed down the left touch line to score tries from close range few others could have managed.
“It’s my speed,” he said.
“If I get that opportunity five metres or even two metres out, I can create that space for myself and execute those tries for myself.”
In the past Canterbury winger Josh Addo-Carr has floated having a foot race between the NRL’s fastest players on grand final day, as is done by the AFL.
Addo-Carr, Melbourne’s Ryan Papenhuyzen, Dolphins sizzler Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Manly speed machine Jason Saab would all be among those to give Khan-Pereira a run for his money.
He would like to test himself against the best but stopped short of saying he is the quickest.
“I like to keep humble about that. I’m not sure (who is quickest),” he said.
“I’d love to have a race with some of the fastest boys who are up there if the NRL set one up ... like Saab and Hammer (Tabuai-Fidow).”
Johnny King using forwards Monty Porter and Bill Wilson as a hurdle during training at Kogarah Oval in 1961.Credit: Sydney Morning Herald
Khan-Pereira gets his chance to notch a 40th try in the home derby clash with Brisbane on Saturday.
Both teams are on 20 points and mathematical chances of playing finals.
“One hundred per cent we can, we had our (three-game) winning streak a few weeks ago,” he said.
“Last week against Manly we didn’t perform our best and coming into the Dolphins we wanted to show that we can still be a top eight team. I definitely have that confidence.
“I’m so keen for (the Broncos clash). It’s a Queensland derby you know. Those are the boys down the street that you want to verse. It’s almost like backyard footy with those boys.”
The Titans won’t want to rely on coach Des Hasler giving them a halftime bake like he did against the Dolphins when they trailed 14-6. That said, Hasler does know how to get his players to focus when they stray.
“It was a clear message,” Khan-Pereira grinned.
“Des woke us up. We played better footy when Des gave us a spray.
“He was actually just screaming, to be honest. There was more screaming and ripping his hair out.
“I think he just said our execution needed to be better, quick sets. The boys did that and got us the win.”
AAP