There are just six weeks of the regular season to go, and the MVP race is heating up on the back of another intriguing week, with a star forward still holding the narrowest of leads.
It’s starting to appear as if Joseph Tapine, James Tedesco and Ben Hunt will be likely to duke the award out for 2022 between them, with just five votes separating the top three, but 15 votes back to fourth, with Dylan Edwards surging back up the leaderboard this week on the back of a strong effort.
Cameron Munster, Nicho Hynes, Joseph Manu, Jahrome Hughes and Daly Cherry-Evans sit as the next five, while Adam Reynolds putting in a perfect performance for the Broncos rockets him ahead of teammate Payne Haas and into equal tenth spot alongside Scott Drinkwater, albeit over 50 votes behind the lead of Tapine.
Here are all the Round 19 votes.
Parramatta Eels vs Brisbane Broncos
The Eels went into Thursday’s round opener as favourites at home, but had their pants pulled down by a Broncos side who just refuse to take no for an answer this season. Scoring 30 points, it was Adam Reynolds who shone as he moves up the MVP table, but he certainly had plenty of back up, with Payne Haas also returning from injury with a bang.
Matt Clements
Scott Pryde
Dan Nichols
Jack Blyth
5
Adam Reynolds
Adam Reynolds
Adam Reynolds
Adam Reynolds
4
Payne Haas
Payne Haas
Payne Haas
Payne Haas
3
Jordan Riki
Ezra Mam
Thomas Flegler
Thomas Flegler
2
Thomas Flegler
Thomas Flegler
Jordan Riki
Ezra Mam
1
Ezra Mam
Tesi Niu
Ezra Mam
Jordan Riki
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Manly Sea Eagles
A scrappy game got Friday night underway, but in the end, a trio of outs thanks to coronavirus was too much for the Sea Eagles to overcome as they fell fairly convincingly to the Dragons at Kogarah, with Ben Hunt putting on yet another dominant display and continuing to stake his claim for this season’s MVP award.
Matt Clements
Scott Pryde
Dan Nichols
Jack Blyth
5
Ben Hunt
Ben Hunt
Ben Hunt
Ben Hunt
4
Dylan Walker
Blake Lawrie
Jack Bird
Blake Lawrie
3
Jack Bird
Jack Bird
Blake Lawrie
Dylan Walker
2
Josh Aloiai
Dylan Walker
Josh Aloiai
Jack Bird
1
Talatau Amone
Josh Aloiai
Dylan Walker
Josh Aloiai
Newcastle Knights vs Sydney Roosters
James Tedesco is simply on another planet at the moment. He led the Roosters with over 300 metres on Friday, with the tri-colours ultimately racking up 40 points on the hapless Knights. Sam Walker, Luke Keary and Joseph Suaalii were also all excellent in backing up the star Blue.
Matt Clements
Scott Pryde
Dan Nichols
Jack Blyth
5
James Tedesco
James Tedesco
James Tedesco
James Tedesco
4
Sam Walker
Sam Walker
Luke Keary
Luke Keary
3
Joseph Suaalii
Luke Keary
Sam Walker
Sam Walker
2
Luke Keary
Joseph Suaalii
Joseph Suaalii
Joseph Suaalii
1
Connor Watson
Connor Watson
Connor Watson
Connor Watson
Canberra Raiders vs New Zealand Warriors
A game of two halves hit the nation’s capital on Saturday, with it turning out that the Raiders ultimately played the second half a little bit better than the Warriors played the first. Josh Papalii and Joseph Tapine were excellent for Canberra, while Jamal Fogarty controlled the team around the park.
Matt Clements
Scott Pryde
Dan Nichols
Jack Blyth
5
Josh Papalii
Joseph Tapine
Josh Papalii
Joseph Tapine
4
Joseph Tapine
Jamal Fogarty
Joseph Tapine
Jamal Fogarty
3
Jamal Fogarty
Josh Papalii
Jamal Fogarty
Josh Papalii
2
Corey Harawira-Naera
Albert Hopoate
Corey Harawira-Naera
Corey Harawira-Naera
1
Albert Hopoate
Emre Guler
Albert Hopoate
Albert Hopoate
Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla Sharks
The first bit of controversy for the weekend struck in the middle Saturday game when Dale Finucane was not penalised, but then slapped with a Grade 3 charge the next morning for dangerous contact. Regardless, Penrith got the job done, and Apisai Koroisau led the way alongside Dylan Edwards.
Matt Clements
Scott Pryde
Dan Nichols
Jack Blyth
5
Apisai Koroisau
Dylan Edwards
Apisai Koroisau
Apisai Koroisau
4
Dylan Edwards
Apisai Koroisau
Dylan Edwards
Dylan Edwards
3
Jarome Luai
Source:: ZeroTackle
