Arabic version: فيل سامي يقترب من رقم محاولات غولد كوست تايتنز القياسي

According to ABC News, Phil Sami is level with Anthony Don as the Gold Coast Titans’ all-time leading try-scorer on 85 tries. Sami has four matches remaining to score once more and take the record outright before joining St George Illawarra at the end of the season.

Sami debuted for Gold Coast in 2017 and has spent 10 seasons with the club. Counting interim appointments, he has played under nine head coaches, appeared in one semi-final and has never been part of a Titans team with a winning record. That semi-final remains Gold Coast’s only finals match since 2010.

The winger has produced a strong individual season despite the Titans’ difficulties. He has run more metres than any other NRL player, more than 200 ahead of second place, and is averaging 218 metres gained per game — the best figure of his career. Sami also leads the league in post-contact metres, sitting 400 metres ahead of every other winger.

One more line break would equal Sami’s career-best single-season total in that category, while another try would match his best season for tries. Teammate Keano Kini is the only NRL player to have carried the ball more times this season.

Sami’s first opportunity to break the club record comes against Newcastle on Sunday. The Knights remain in the race for the top four and will be favourites at home. Sami has agreed to a three-year deal with St George Illawarra, a move Gold Coast was open to retaining him from but which the report said was too good to refuse.