Running Metres

The amount of metres a team or player runs for with the ball in his possession towards the try line.

This NRL stat is often dominated by big forwards who can play extended minutes on the field, or outside backs who see a lot of the ball on kick returns. Running metres are a crucial stat in highlighting which players and teams are better at advancing the ball into an attacking area on the field and winning the territorial battle.

Example: “Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ran for a game-high 253 metres.” 

Punters tend to look at running metres as a measure of both the strength of a team's forward pack, and the ability of individuals to get the ball down to the other end of the field. 

Teams that struggle to find easy metres also tend to struggle when it comes to scoring points. Halfbacks and Five-Eighths tend to thrive when their forward pack are gaining high metres and getting over the advantage line. 

For NRL punters who bet on the total points over or under markets, running metres can provide a useful indication of how easily a team gets the ball into an area and where they can score from.

Benchmark: Forwards should aim to run for more than 100 metres per game. Anything over 150 metres is considered a standout performance.