Such is his work ethic, Cronulla, New South Wales and Australia second rower Paul Gallen has been installed as the $6.50 favourite by online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au to be the player who gains the most metres during the 2012 NRL season.

Not only is Gallen the only player in single figures, the next ten players in the market are all backs.

Equal second in the market at $13 are flyers Ben Barba, Jarryd Hayne, Brett Stewart, Josh Hoffman, Josh Dugan, Darius Boyd and Ashley Graham with Akuila Uate, Nathan Merritt and Michael Jennings next at $15.

“He is a machine. He never stops running,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said. “The fact he’s a back rower and will likely play front row at times this year but is such a clear favourite is a testament to the effort he puts in and the way he plays.”

“There are some very exciting and lightening quick players behind him in the market so it will be great to see some of them in full flight but we think Gal will get the gong.”

Eels prop Fuifui Moimoi is a $17 chance alongside Blake Ferguson, Kevin Locke and Lachlan Coote with Corey Parker and Jason Nightingale (both $19), Nathan Gardiner ($21), Feleti Mateo ($26), Anthony Watmough ($29) and Matt Bowen ($34) all given an outside chance.

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au
Most metres gained in NRL in 2012
$6.50 Paul Gallen

$13 Ben Barba, Jarryd Hayne, Brett Stewart, Josh Hoffman, Josh Dugan, Darius Boyd, Ashley Graham

$15 Akuila Uate, Nathan Merritt, Michael Jennings

$17 Blake Ferguson, Fuifoi Moimoi, Kevin Locke, Lachlan Coote

$19 Corey Parker, Jason Nightingale

$21 Nathan Gardiner

$26 Feleti Mateo

$29 Anthony Watmough

$34 Matt Bowen

$41 David Taylor

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$67 Manu Vatuvei

$81 Jamal Idris

$101 Benji Marshall

$201 Nathan Hindmarsh

Others quoted