Daly Cherry-Evans has taken the early lead of Zero Tackle's NRL finals MVP after being the only player to record a perfect 20 votes during the opening weekend.
Coming during the Sea Eagles' sudden death comeback win over the Canterbury Bulldogs at a packed out Accor Stadium, the Queensland Maroons' veteran stood up when it counted to be named man of the match by all four of our judges.
Nathan Cleary, Harry Grant, Dylan Edwards andJ Jahrome Hughes all fired for the Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm respectively ahead of their week off, while Kalyn Ponga, who recorded 18 votes, was the highest vote-getter in the Newcastle Knights loss to the North Queensland Cowboys.
As a reminder how this works, four judges from Zero Tackle's team (founder Matt Clements, writers Ethan Lee Chalk and Dan Nichols, and myself as editor), will assign votes on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis for every game during the finals, as we did during the regular season.
Given the finals are a much shorter campaign, it's likely only players who make the grand final will be able to take out the final prize.
| Matt Clements | Scott Pryde | Dan Nichols | Ethan Lee Chalk | |
| 5 | Dylan Edwards | Nathan Cleary | Nathan Cleary | Nathan Cleary |
| 4 | Nathan Cleary | Dylan Edwards | Dylan Edwards | Mitch Kenny |
| 3 | Luke Garner | Isaah Yeo | Isaah Yeo | Dylan Edwards |
| 2 | Isaah Yeo | Luke Garner | Luke Garner | Luke Garner |
| 1 | James Tedesco | Moses Leota | Mitch Kenny | Isaah Yeo |
| Matt Clements | Scott Pryde | Dan Nichols | Ethan Lee Chalk | |
| 5 | Cameron Munster | Harry Grant | Harry Grant | Harry Grant |
| 4 | Jahrome Hughes | Jahrome Hughes | Jahrome Hughes | Jahrome Hughes |
| 3 | Harry Grant | Cameron Munster | Eliesa Katoa | Cameron Munster |
| 2 | Eliesa Katoa | Eliesa Katoa | Trent Loiero | Josh King |
| 1 | Trent Loiero | Trent Loiero | Josh King | Will Warbrick |
| Matt Clements | Scott Pryde | Dan Nichols | Ethan Lee Chalk | |
| 5 | Kalyn Ponga | Scott Drinkwater | Kyle Feldt | Kalyn Ponga |
| 4 | Scott Drinkwater | Kalyn Ponga | Kalyn Ponga | Kyle Feldt |
| 3 | Kyle Feldt | Kyle Feldt | Scott Drinkwater | Tom Dearden |
| 2 | Tom Dearden | Tom Dearden | Tom Dearden | Jayden Brailey |
| 1 | Reuben Cotter | Reuben Cotter | Jayden Brailey | Reuben Cotter |
| Matt Clements | Scott Pryde | Dan Nichols | Ethan Lee Chalk | |
| 5 | Daly Cherry-Evans | Daly Cherry-Evans | Daly Cherry-Evans | Daly Cherry-Evans |
| 4 | Viliame Kikau | Haumole Olakau'atu | Viliame Kikau | Viliame Kikau |
| 3 | Haumole Olakau'atu | Viliame Kikau | Jeral Skelton | Tom Trbojevic |
| 2 | Jeral Skelton | Matthew Lodge | Matthew Lodge | Jeral Skelton |
| 1 | Matthew Lodge | Tolutau Koula | Tolutau Koula | Tolutau Koula |
Here are all the votes from the opening weekend's qualifying and elimination finals.
1. Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles) - 20 votes
2. Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers) - 19 votes
3. Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm) - 18 votes
3. Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights) - 18 votes
5. Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers) - 16 votes
5. Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne Storm) - 16 votes
7. Viliame Kikau (Canterbury Bulldogs) - 15 votes
7. Kyle Feldt (North Queensland Cowboys) - 15 votes
9. Scott Drinkwater (North Queensland Cowboys) - 12 votes
10. Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm) - 11 votes
Leaderboard correct as at September 18.
Head to Zero Tackle's NRL finals hub for the full leaderboard.