After a week off due to the Representative Round, the NRL returned over the weekend, and that means The Roar‘s NRL MVP is back, with the leaderboard continuing to take shape as we close in on the mid-point of the season.
A couple of big guns recorded maximum points this weekend, and with that we have a big lead opened up at the top of the leaderboard.
The middle of the top 10 has been reshuffled again though with the State of Origin period approaching.
For those interested, we now have 120 players who have registered votes this season.
So, who have our bloggers got this week?
St George Illawarra Dragons 16 defeat Canberra Raiders 12
Blogged by: Jarrod McGrouther
3: Josh Dugan – Was fantastic at the back in defence, despite the lighting problem. Back at fullback he was able to assert himself into the contest and ran the ball hard all game.
2: Mike Cooper – Made 162 metres from just 18 hit ups with 37 tackles – and an excellent efficency in those tackles.
1: Jarrod Croker – Scored a try down the left edge for the Raiders and defended well, restricting the Dragons on many occasions.
Parramatta Eels 20 defeated by South Sydney Rabbitohs 22
Blogged by: Riley Pettigrew
3: Sam Burgess – Possibly his best performance since returning from rugby. Had a huge 220 metres, the most of any players and 36 tackles. Added a line break and looked dangerous all night.
2: Manu Ma’u – Easily the best forward on the park for the Eels, playing all 80 minutes. He would run for 166 metres, adding 19 tackles and playing a pivotal role in Semi Radradra’s second try.
1: Greg Inglis – Moved into the halves and he was impressive, especially when shifted to centre late in the match. Ran for a massive 158 metres from just 14 hit ups and made 19 tackles, breaking the line twice and playing a massive hand in the match-winning try.
Penrith Panthers 30 defeat New Zealand Warriors 18
Blogged by: Scott Pryde
3: Jamie Soward – The Penrith playmaker looked to attack the line at every opportunity in this match, and it showed on the scoreboard. Scored a try, played a hand in a few others and was exceptional with his goal kicking in tricky conditions.
2: Trent Merrin – Led from the front for the Panthers, looking dangerous with ball in hand, contributing a few offloads and making plenty of damaging tackles.
1: Solomone Kata – Tried his heart out for the Warriors, putting in some bone jarring tackles, scoring a try and running for a massive 156 metres from just 15 hit ups.
Melbourne Storm 15 defeat North Queensland Cowboys 14
Blogged by: John Coomer
3: Cameron Smith – Apart from kicking the match winning field goal, Smith controlled the Melbourne attack all night and came up with 62 tackles in a huge performance.
2: Johnathan Thurston – Melbourne’s wingers will be having nightmares about JT’s kicking game. He looked dangerous all night with the ball in hand, and defended well, coming up with a crucial ankle tap to stop Siliasi Vinivalu from a certain try in the second half.
1: Tohu Harris – Was out in the centres for the most of the match, but as he has done so often Harris stoof up providing a try, 150 metres and 29 tackles.
Manly Sea Eagles 6 defeated by Brisbane Broncos 30
Blogged by: Scott Pryde
3: Anthony Milford – Orchestrated the Broncos attack brilliantly with a pair of tries, a strong kicking game and three line breaks, while he ran 185 metres getting plenty of dangerous touches that kept Manly on edge all game.
2: Darius Boyd – Like Milford, Boyd was damaging with the ball in hand. He picked up 183 metres with a line break, while also scoring a try and assisting another.
1: Ben Hunt – Seemed to be the calming influence the Broncos needed, controlling things in any tough periods with his kicking game. He also combined well with Milford ending the match with a try assist and a line break.
Newcastle Knights 0 defeated by Cronulla Sharks 62
Blogged by: Scott Pryde
3: Ben Barba – Was nearly undoutedly the competition’s best player this weekend – Scored one try, while being officially credited with two try assists, but seemed to have a hand in everything.
2: Valentine Holmes – Was absolute damaging for the Sharks, scoring four tries and making a whole series of breaks. He caused hell for the Knights all afternoon ending with 217 metres from just 12 runs including two line breaks.
1: Wade Graham – Had a try of his own, but the Knights defence couldn’t stop him. He made a game high 234 metres from 24 runs adding a line break and playing a hand in a few tries.
Wests Tigers 4 defeated by Canterbury Bulldogs 36
Blogged by: Riley Pettigrew
3: Sam Perrett – Was the shining light for the Bulldogs, filling in at fullback for Will Hopoate. Had a huge role in three tries while scoring one of his own and adding 150 metres with a line break.
2: Josh Reynolds – Had a wonderful combination on the right-hand edge with Perrett. Made three line breaks, grabbed a try and a try assist, running 99 metres and making 17 tackles.
1: Josh Jackson – Worked hard all match on the right edge, running for 82 tackles and adding 34 tackles, looking to push his State of Origin claims.
Gold Coast Titans 26 defeatSydney Roosters 6
Blogged by: Joshua Thomas
3: Tyrone Roberts – Guided the Titans around the park fantastically with a strong kicking game and also managed to lay on a try.
2: Jake Friend – Couldn’t have worked much harder for a well beaten Roosters outfit, playing all 80 minutes and adding 65 tackles.
1: Agnatius Passi – Managed to score a try of his own in a damaging performance from the bench, with 160 metres and a pair of line breaks.
1. Anthony Milford (Brisbane Broncos) – 17 votes
2. Ben Barba (Cronulla Sharks) – 13 votes
=3. Josh Hodgson (Canberra Raiders) – 12 votes
=3. Corey Norman (Parramatta Eels) – 12 votes
=3. Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys) – 12 votes
=3. Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm) – 12 votes
=7. James Tedesco (Wests Tigers) – 11 votes
=7. Josh Dugan (St George Illawarra Dragons) – 11 votes
=9. Chad Townsend (Cronulla Sharks) – 10 votes
=9. Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys) – 10 votes
=9. Michael Morgan (North Queensland Cowboys) – 10 votes
=9. Josh Reynolds (Canterbury Bulldogs) – 10 votes
After 10 rounds of action then, it is arguably the most in form player right throughout the competition pushing out to a four point lead with a huge performance in the Broncos win against the Manly Sea Eagles.
Ben Barba also recorded maximum points and brings himself into second.
It is an absolute log jam behind, with 10 players separated by three votes and a further five players within two votes of out leaderboard.
Many of the players who are not in what we would consider the ‘top 3’ missed out on points this weekend, with Josh Reynolds able to work his way onto 10 votes – equal ninth, and Josh Dugan going further ahead with three votes.
Roarers, thoughts on the leaderboard? How does it reflect the season?
That just about does it for another week. Be sure to continue to join The Roar‘s live coverage of each game throughout the season, and stick around on the website for all the best analysis and opinion.
See you next week, same time, same place!
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
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