May 23rd, 2017

May 23rd, 2017

Ever wondered just how quick Queensland winger Dane Gagai was running when he scored a length-of-the field try in game two last year? Or better still, what about NSW backrower Tyson Frizell who was rapidly closing in behind him?

Well now you'll be able to, thanks to Australian-first technology that will help viewers determine once and for all who's the fastest player on the field, and it will be coming to your lounge room for the opening State of Origin game at Suncorp Stadium on May 31.

Channel Nine's Wide World of Sports,in conjunction with the NRL, the NSWRL, the QRL and the worldwide leader in tracking technology, Catapult, will unveil a system that clubs and coaches have been using in the NRL for years to measure key performance indicators for players.

Speed isn't the only information that Wide World of Sports will have at its fingertips with the Telstra Tracker also being able to showcase total distance a player covers, heat maps of where they've been on the field, which player has run the furthest.

It is the biggest innovation to be used in a broadcast since Spidercam was first introduced over a decade ago.

"There's a reason all 16 clubs have been using this information to analyse a player's performance game in, game out, butWide Wide World of Sports has worked closely with the NRL who have led the initiative to bring viewers closer to the action," Head of Creative and Innovations, Alex Rolls, said.

The technology, known as LPS or Local Positioning System, is even more accurate than GPS as it relies on 20 beacons that are placed around Suncorp Stadium. The data is transferred back and is accurate to within 15 centimetres.

The technology has already been road tested during last Friday night's match between Brisbane and Wests Tigers (yes we know how fast James 'Jimmy the Jet' Roberts is but we're sworn to secrecy) with players slipping a small chip that can fit in the palm of your hand into a vest.

It is hoped that the Origin broadcast could be start of a bigger plan to introduce it into the NRL which would require beacons to be set up at all home grounds.

"Tracking has been used in various sports around the world, and it's been used in rugby league but it's never been put to air," Rolls said.

"At the end of the day this is something that only coaches and players have been privy to until now. And now the viewer will."