The Gold Coast are set to unleash their version of Josh Addo-Carr when dazzling winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira makes his NRL debut against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval.
The 21-year-old has been in supreme form after scoring four tries in the 40-16 trial win over the Dolphins, a week after notching two tries in a 24-all draw with Brisbane.
Khan-Pereira was the leading try scorer in the Queensland Cup last year with 25 for the Burleigh Bears and subsequently named the competition’s winger of the year.
Canterbury flyer Addo-Carr, known as ‘The Foxx’, was clocked at 38.7 km/hr against the Titans last season, the fastest official speed recorded by the NRL.
In last year’s pre-season Khan-Pereira clocked 36.5 km/hr at training while hardly raising a sweat and not being chased.
Luke Burt, who played 264 NRL games for Parramatta, previously coached Khan-Pereira at Burleigh where he was an assistant coach before moving up to the top job this season.
He said the only speedster he had seen who would match Khan-Pereira was Addo-Carr.
“I am a bit biased because I have worked with ‘Lof’ but I would put my money on ‘Lof’. It would be mighty close in a race,” Burt told AAP ahead of Sunday afternoon’s clash.
“I haven’t seen many people move on the field like him. He is lightning.
“Even when he got in the clear last year I don’t think he showed us his true speed. He just did enough to get there.
“Give him a 50-50 situation to break the line or score a try in the corner and nine times out of 10 he will get there.”
Burt said Khan-Pereira, in the Titans system since his teens, was unique because he could actually move around players and keep his speed.
“There are a few tries he scored at Burleigh for us last year where he beat the fullback and held that speed,” Burt said.
“A lot of sprinters are renowned for being straight line fast but he can change direction and keep that speed.
“I have heard strength and conditioners say all the time that speed is power and he has got plenty of it.”
Asides from being a speedster Burt said Khan-Pereira was “a great human being” who kept a positive vibe around the club.
When the Titans were at their best previously they had speedy wingers David Mead and Kevin Gordon on the wings.
Khan-Pereira is a blast from the past and he plays outside creative five-eighth Kieran Foran and rampaging back-rower Beau Fermor, who both set him up for tries against the Dolphins.
“In the past it has been a good formula for the Titans and I think with the style of football (Titans coach) Justin Holbrook likes to play those finishers on the edges are so important,” Burt said.
“If you give ‘Lof’ half an opportunity he is going to finish most of them.”
© AAP 2023
