Sharks playmaker Nicho Hynes has moved into equal third on the Dally M leaderboard after a starring performance in Round 9.
The 2022 Dally M Medallist, who missed the first three weeks of the season with injury, picked up the maximum six points on offer in Cronulla's big win over North Queensland – taking his season total to 20 points and drawing him level with Storm hooker Harry Grant and Broncos fullback Reece Walsh in third place.
Hynes was the only player in the top five on the Dally M leaderboard to pick up points in Round 9 with Payne Haas (23 points) remaining in the lead despite missing the round with suspension. Nathan Cleary (21 points) didn't score points in the Panthers' shock defeat to Wests Tigers while Grant (bye) didn't play.
Of the current top ten players, only Hynes and Adam Reynolds polled Dally M votes with the Broncos halfback moving to 19 points alongside Ben Hunt.
Origin hopefuls Campbell Graham and David Fifita were among five players to secure maximum points in Round 9, with the pair joining playmakers Hynes, Luke Brooks and Jack Wighton in landing six Dally M votes from the round.
Brooks plays the perfect wet weather match
The new Dally M voting process sees two judges watch each game in 2023 and award points on a three-two-one basis, meaning a maximum of six points are available for every match of the 2023 Telstra Premiership season.
Dally M results from Round 9
- Sharks v Cowboys: 6 - Nicho Hynes, 2 - Braden Hamlin-Uele, 2 - Blayke Brailey, 2 - Siosifa Talakai
- Eels v Knights: 4 - J'maine Hopgood, 4 - Clint Gutherson, 3 - Mitchell Moses, 1 - Bryce Cartwright
- Broncos v Rabbitohs: 6 - Campbell Graham, 2 - Cody Walker, 2 - Latrell Mitchell, 1 - Thomas Burgess, 1 - Adam Reynolds
- Raiders v Dolphins: 6 - Jack Wighton, 3 - Jamal Fogarty, 3 - Connelly Lemuelu
- Sea Eagles v Titans: 6 - David Fifita, 3 - Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, 2 - Kieran Foran, 1 - Phillip Sami
- Panthers v Wests Tigers: 6 - Luke Brooks, 2 - Stefano Utoikamanu, 2 - David Klemmer, 1 - Fonua Pole, 1 - Apisai Koroisau
- Warriors v Roosters: 3 - Nat Butcher, 3 - Egan Butcher, 3 - Addin Fonua-Blake, 2 - James Tedesco, 1 - Joseph Manu
- Dragons v Bulldogs: 4 - Braidon Burns, 3 - Ben Hunt, 3 - Jake Averillo, 1 - Reed Mahoney, 1 - Jack De Belin
Dally M leaderboard after Round 9
- 23 points – Payne Haas (Broncos)
- 21 points – Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
- 20 points – Harry Grant (Storm)
- 20 points – Nicho Hynes (Sharks)
- 20 points – Reece Walsh (Broncos)
- 19 points – Adam Reynolds (Broncos)
- 19 points – Ben Hunt (Dragons)
- 17 points – Dylan Edwards (Panthers)
- 17 points – Lachlan Miller (Knights)
- 17 points – Shaun Johnson (Warriors)
Click here to see the full Dally M leaderboard.
Note: deductions for player suspensions have not been added to the leaderboard.