Unheralded Nicholls starting to reap rewards

Mark Nicholls is often the unsung workhorse of South Sydney's forward pack but the prop's latest efforts didn't go unnoticed on the VB Hard Earned index.

It was a game to remember for the 31-year-old as he bagged his first career double in a thumping 54-12 win over the Roosters.

Nicholls earned a VB Hard Earned index score of 88 - the equal third-highest of the round - with an impressive statistical performance.

He took 24 runs - tallying eight or more metres in 18 carries - as well as recording three tackle-busts and 17 tackles with only one miss.

An exemplar of the one-percent plays, Nicholls also tallied three decoy runs and two supports in his 43-minute outing.

Elsewhere, Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic didn't look at his best against the Bulldogs - but the superstar still racked up the top VB index score of the round (100) and collected a hat-trick.

Despite two errors, Trbojevic took 26 runs and busted 14 tackles. He more than doubled the average index score for his position (45.8).

Raiders pair Hudson Young (88) and Jordan Rapana (86) helped drive their team to an epic comeback victory against the Warriors.

On the overall leaderboard, Parramatta forward Isaiah Papali'i can't lose from here, boasting a 246-point lead over Alex Twal.

Papali'i, who was voted as the season's best second-rower in the NRL Fans' Poll, tallied an index score of 98 in the win over the Storm.

Twal is set to finish second but Penrith's James Fisher-Harris, Newcastle's Mitch Barnett, Manly's Martin Taupau and Cronulla's Toby Rudolf are still in the picture heading into the final round.