Unshackled Freeman in Christian Wade's rear mirror as record approaches

It would would appear to be a case of when, not if, Newcastle Red Bulls flyer Christian Wade breaks Chris Ashton’s longstanding PREM try-scoring record.

A purple patch of form has left Wade one short of Ashton’s 101-try landmark going into Friday night’s Northern derby against Sale Sharks at Kingston Park.

Just as Ashton did in 2023 whilst seeing out his career at Leicester, dual code winger Wade brought up his century with a hat-trick against Exeter in the third round earlier this month.

Ashton has held the record for four years, having overtaken Tom Varndell’s tally of 92 tries in 2022, but Wade will do well to last as long when he does eventually get there, given that Tommy Freeman is leading the charge behind him.

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While short spells in American Football and Rugby League disrupted 35-year-old’s Wade’s career as a union player, which has seen him previously play for Wasps and Gloucester, there appears to be no stopping Northampton and England star Freeman, especially with the way the game is going.

Last season’s joint leading try scorer along with Noah Caluori, with 18, Freeman is tied at the top again this season, joining Wade on five tries with a brace in the 71-48 demolition of Bath.

Freeman’s overall career tally in the PREM now stands at a mightily impressive 60 tries from 89 appearances, which equates to a try every 1.48 games.

Taking only players who have scored 50 PREM tries or more, Freeman has the best strike rate of the lot, and barring injury, Freeman will be closing in on a century within the next two to three years – at which point Wade will more than likely have hung up his boots and white leggings.

Exeter’s former number eight Sam Simmonds, who holds the PREM record for most tries in a single season (21 in 2021), has the second best strike-rate of the league’s top finishers with 1.54 (59 tries in 91 league appearances).

Wade is third with a strike rate of 1.56 (100 from 156), fractionally ahead of Saracens’ Max Malins’ 1.59 (63/100).

Ashton completes the top five with a strike rate of 1.78 (101/180).

One to watch is Freeman’s Northampton teammate, Ollie Sleightholme. The England international needs five tries to join the PREM’s 50-try club, having bagged a hat-trick against Bath last time out.

Blessed with power and pace, Sleightholme has been bedevilled by injury, but reminded everyone what he was about in the second-highest scoring game in PREM history. The 26-year-old now has 45 league tries from just 70 appearances, a strike rate of 1.56.

PREM top try-scorers by strike rate

1. Tommy Freeman – 1.48 (60t/89 apps)
2. Sam Simmonds – 1.54 (59/91)
3. Christian Wade – 1.56 (100/156)
4. Max Malins – 1.59 (63/100)
5. Chris Ashton – 1.78 (101/180)
6. Steve Hanley – 1.80 (75/135)
7. Cadan Murley – 1.93 (57/110)
8. Tom Varndell – 1.96 (92/180)
9. Vereniki Goneva – 2.00 (58/116)
9. Ollie Hassell-Collins – 2.00 (63/126)

*qualifying criteria – 50 tries; data supplied by Hillsport Media Ltd