With Jason Taumalolo copping a suspension, Johnathan Thurston injured and Cooper Cronk sharing the spoils with his teammates, the battle for the Dally M is wide open.
Cameron Smith occupies first place on the Dally M leaderboard with 13 points, two points clear of Sydney Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary. Keary has been outstanding since moving from the Rabbitohs in the offseason and his early season form has been rewarded by the Dally M judges.
Rounding out the Top 3 is Dragons five-eighth Gareth Widdop who has also been in scintillating form to start the season, with St George Illawarra currently sitting atop the NRL ladder, surprising many.
Prior to Taumalolo sharing the spoils with Cronk last season, a forward (hookers aside) hadn't won the award since Cronulla second-rower Gavin Miller back in 1989.
The tables may have turned though with four forwards featuring in the Top 5. Sharks stalwart Paul Gallen is currently ranking fourth on 9 points, with teammate Wade Graham, Dragons recruit Paul Vaughan and Bulldogs captain James Graham all with 8 points.
Who do you think has been the player of the season so far?
| C Smith (MEL) | 13 |
| L Keary (SYD) | 11 |
| G Widdop (STI) | 10 |
| P Gallen (CRO) | 9 |
| J Rapana (CAN) | 8 |
| P Vaughan (STI) | 8 |
| W Graham (CRO) | 8 |
| J Graham (CBY) | 8 |
| R Tuivasa-Sheck (WAR) | 7 |
| M Gillett (BRI) | 7 |
| J de Belin (STI) | 7 |
| B Hunt (BRI) | 7 |
| T Trbojevic (MAN) | 7 |
| J Paulo (CAN) | 7 |
| J Tedesco (WST) | 6 |
| M Pearce (SYD) | 6 |
| C Norman (PAR) | 6 |
| A Reynolds (SOU) | 5 |
| D Walker (MAN) | 5 |
| C Walker (SOU) | 5 |
| J Maloney (CRO) | 5 |
| J Reynolds (CBY) | 5 |
| J Taumalolo (NQL) | 5 |
| S Mannering (NZL) | 4 |
| B Cordner (SYD) | 4 |
| K Foran (NZL) | 4 |
| J Thurston (NQL) | 4 |
| S Vunivalu (MEL) | 4 |
| B Slater (MEL) | 4 |
| M Taupau (MAN) | 4 |
| A Taylor (GCT) | 4 |
| R Farah (SOU) | 3 |
| J Leilua (CAN) | 3 |
| J McGuire (BRI) | 3 |
| B French (PAR) | 3 |
| M Gordon (SYD) | 3 |
| B Lamb (NEW) | 3 |
| D Cherry-Evans (MAN) | 3 |
| T Maire Martin (PEN) | 3 |
| J Trbojevic (MAN) | 3 |
| M Moylan (PEN) | 3 |
| M Mbye (CBY) | 3 |
| V Holmes (CRO) | 3 |
| J Granville (NQL) | 3 |
| M Moses (WST) | 3 |
| A Milford (BRI) | 3 |
| C Hess (NQL) | 3 |
| J Wighton (CAN) | 3 |
| W Chambers (MEL) | 3 |
| A McCullough (BRI) | 3 |
| T Peachey (PEN) | 3 |
| L Lewis (CRO) | 3 |
| J Papalii (CAN) | 3 |
| J Dugan (STI) | 3 |
| S Burgess (SOU) | 3 |
| B Morris (CBY) | 3 |
| D Nofoaluma (WST) | 3 |
| J Thompson (STI) | 3 |
| C Gutherson (PAR) | 3 |
| D Boyd (BRI) | 2 |
| R Campbell-Gillard (PEN) | 2 |
| D Fusitua (NZL) | 2 |
| M McIlwrick (WST) | 2 |
| S Bolton (NQL) | 2 |
| J Hodgson (CAN) | 2 |
| K Elgey (GCT) | 2 |
| L Mitchell (SYD) | 2 |
| C McInnes (STI) | 2 |
| D Gagai (NEW) | 2 |
| J Buhrer (NEW) | 2 |
| B Lee (CBY) | 2 |
| M Morgan (NQL) | 2 |
| S Mata’utia (NEW) | 2 |
| M Ma’u (PAR) | 2 |
| C Munster (MEL) | 2 |
| T Roberts (GCT) | 2 |
| M Barnett (NEW) | 2 |
| L Brooks (WST) | 1 |
| D Watene-Zelezniak (PEN) | 1 |
| S Johnson (NZL) | 1 |
| K Sio (NEW) | 1 |
| C Cronk (MEL) | 1 |
| A Koroisau (MAN) | 1 |
| D Cook (SOU) | 1 |
| J Asiata (NQL) | 1 |
| R James (GCT) | 1 |
| M Frawley (CBY) | 1 |
| L Latu (PEN) | 1 |
| B Cordner (SYD) | 1 |
| K Auva’a (PAR) | 1 |
| R Leutele (CRO) | 1 |
| J Wallace (GCT) | 1 |
| T Lafai (STI) | 1 |
| D Finucane (MEL) | 1 |
| S Radradra (PAR) | 1 |
| F Kaufusi (MEL) | 1 |