SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 01: Nathan Cleary of the Panthers kicks during the round 12 NRL match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Penrith Panthers at Lottoland on August 01, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
A strong performance from Cameron Munster in the Melbourne Storm’s demolition of the Newcastle Knights on Sunday afternoon has seen the star claim enough votes to join Dylan Edwards at the top of Zero Tackle’s NRL MVP leaderboard.
Munster managed to poll 12 votes from the game, while former outright leader Dylan Edwards only managed one, meaning the duo are now tied on 83 votes.
The Storm continue their outright domination at the top, holding second spot, third spot, fifth spot and ninth spot through Munster, Jahrome Hughes, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Harry Grant respectively.
Many of those at the top failed to register big votes this week, closing the gap between first and 13th place to just 26 votes.
Six separate players managed unanimous man of the match votes from our panel, with one of those being Nathan Cleary, meaning he has claimed 58 votes in the last three weeks out of a possible 60 to now sit in 11th place on the leaderboard.
Here are all of the Round 8 votes.
Brisbane Broncos vs Cronulla Sharks
In what was, for the most part, a weekend of upsets, the Broncos got things off to a flying start with a win over the high-flying Sharks. It was, to a large extent, the Kotoni Staggs show, although he was backed up strongly by Herbie Farnworth, Kurt Capewell and Adam Reynolds in a much-needed win for Kevin Walters’ side.
Matt Clements
Scott Pryde
Dan Nichols
Jack Blyth
5
Kotoni Staggs
Kotoni Staggs
Kotoni Staggs
Kotoni Staggs
4
Herbie Farnworth
Herbie Farnworth
Herbie Farnworth
Herbie Farnworth
3
Kurt Capewell
Kurt Capewell
Matt Moylan
William Kennedy
2
William Kennedy
Matt Moylan
Adam Reynolds
Adam Reynolds
1
Corey Oates
Adam Reynolds
William Kennedy
Matt Moylan
Gold Coast Titans vs Penrith Panthers
Nathan Cleary has come away with another perfect round, scoring 20 votes in the Panthers’ 18 points to 4 beating of the Titans, despite the fact they came into the match off a five-day turnaround. It means he has claimed 58 votes in three weeks as he approaches the top ten, with Viliame Kikau and James Fisher-Harris also among Penrith’s best.
Matt Clements
Scott Pryde
Dan Nichols
Jack Blyth
5
Nathan Cleary
Nathan Cleary
Nathan Cleary
Nathan Cleary
4
Viliame Kikau
Viliame Kikau
Viliame Kikau
Viliame Kikau
3
Isaah Yeo
James Fisher-Harris
James Fisher-Harris
James Fisher-Harris
2
James Fisher-Harris
Greg Marzhew
Isaah Yeo
Isaah Yeo
1
Greg Marzhew
Taylan May
Greg Marzhew
Dylan Edwards
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles
Karl Lawton’s send off for a horrendous tackle on Cameron Murray stole all of the headlines from the Rabbitohs’ win over a 12-man Sea Eagles, but it was Cody Walker and Damien Cook’s form which was most impressive as the men from Redfern ran up 40 points over their opponents.
Matt Clements
Scott Pryde
Dan Nichols
Jack Blyth
5
Cody Walker
Damien Cook
Cody Walker
Cody Walker
4
Thomas Burgess
Thomas Burgess
Damien Cook
Thomas Burgess
3
Cameron Murray
Cody Walker
Thomas Burgess
Campbell Graham
2
Damien Cook
Campbell Graham
Cameron Murray
Damien Cook
1
Keaon Koloamatangi
Cameron Murray
Christian Tuipulotu
Cameron Murray
New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders
The Raiders’ dismal first third of the 2022 NRL season continues, with the club falling to another second half fade out and eventual golden point field goal against the Warriors. Shaun Johnson kicked it, but it was Euan Aitken and Daejarn Asi who were best on ground for the winners, while Jack Wighton – who now faces a two-week suspension – was the best for Canberra.
Matt Clements
Scott Pryde
Dan Nichols
Jack Blyth
5
Jack Wighton
Euan Aitken
Jack Wighton
Euan Aitken
4
Euan Aitken
Daejarn Asi
Euan Aitken
Jack Wighton
3
Daejarn Asi
Jack Wighton
Daejarn Asi
Daejarn Asi
2
Corey Harawira-Naera
Corey Horsburgh
Corey Horsburgh
Addin Fonua-Blake
1
Addin Fonua-Blake
Addin Fonua-Blake
Corey Harawira-Naera
Corey Harawira-Naera
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Sydney Roosters
A unanimous man of the match performance from James Tedesco – who made double-digit tackle busts – wasn’t enough to inspire the Sydney Roosters past a gallant Canterbury Bulldogs on Saturday evening, with Josh Addo-Carr and Paul Vaughan among the best for the blue and white.
Matt Clements
Scott Pryde
Dan Nichols
Jack Blyth
5
James Tedesco
James Tedesco
James Tedesco
James Tedesco
4
Josh Addo-Carr
Josh Addo-Carr
Paul Vaughan
Josh Addo-Carr
3
Paul Vaughan
Paul Vaughan
Josh Addo-Carr
Paul Vaughan
2
Tevita Pangai Junior
Angus Crichton
Angus Crichton
Aaron Schoupp
1
Victor Radley
Matt Dufty
Aaron Schoupp
Angus Crichton
Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys
In the weekend’s biggest shock, the Eels were pounced on by the Cowboys, falling 35 points to 4. The Cowboys put on an attacking masterclass at times, with Scott Drinkwater making himself virtually undroppable with another man of the match performance, despite the return of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow on the bench. Selection headaches a plenty for Todd Payten!
Matt Clements
Scott Pryde
Dan Nichols
Jack Blyth
5
Scott Drinkwater
Scott Drinkwater
Scott Drinkwater
Scott Drinkwater
4
Kyle Feldt
Reuben Cotter
Reuben Cotter
Reuben Cotter
3
Reuben Cotter
Jason Taumalolo
Jason Taumalolo
Kyle Feldt
2
Jason Taumalolo
Kyle Feldt
Kyle Feldt
Jason Taumalolo
1
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Newcastle Knights vs Melbourne Storm
It was a case of another week, another big win for the Storm on Sunday as they put a half-century worth of points on the hapless Newcastle Knights, who haven’t scored a single try in their last two games. Justin Olam led the way for Melbourne with a couple of tries.
Matt Clements
Scott Pryde
Dan Nichols
Jack Blyth
5
Justin Olam
Justin Olam
Justin Olam
Justin Olam
4
Nick Meaney
Cameron Munster
Josh King
Cameron Munster
3
Xavier Coates
Josh King
Nick Meaney
Josh King
2
Cameron Munster
Nick Meaney
Cameron Munster
Xavier Coates
1
Josh King
Reimis Smith
Xavier Coates
Nick Meaney
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Wests Tigers
The St George Illawarra Dragons had no right to win Sunday’s game with the Tigers, judging by the stats alone, but they found a way in a game with split MVP votes. Jackson Hastings led the way for the Tigers, but it was Ben Hunt and Moses Suli who got the job done for the Red V.
Matt Clements
Scott Pryde
Dan Nichols
Jack Blyth
5
Jackson Hastings
Ben Hunt
Ben Hunt
Ben Hunt
4
Moses Suli
Moses Suli
Moses Suli
Moses Suli
3
Ben Hunt
Alex Twal
Alex Twal
Jackson Hastings
2
Alex Twal
Jackson Hastings
James Tamou
Alex Twal
1
Tariq Sims
Blake Lawrie
Jackson Hastings
Blake Lawrie
Top Ten
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Source:: ZeroTackle
