Sharks playmaker Nicho Hynes was back from a calf injury and back on top of the Dally M Medal leaderboard after another standout performance in Magic Round.
After missing the Round 10 win over the Storm, Hynes returned to lead his team to a seventh straight victory with two try assists, three line break assists and 15 runs for 92 metres in a high-scoring shootout against the Roosters.
Chasing a second Dally M Medal in three seasons, Hynes polled the maximum six votes in Round 11 to join Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards at the top on 30 points.
Edwards failed to poll a vote in Magic Round as the premiers went down 22-20 to the Warriors in a Sunday afternoon epic at Suncorp Stadium.
The joint leaders have skipped seven points clear of Viliame Kikau in third place on 23, with Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans in fourth on 22 points after picking up two votes in his side's loss to Brisbane.
Dolphins youngster Isaiya Katoa polled three votes in the win over Wests Tigers and sits equal on 21 points with Pat Carrigan (3 votes v Manly), Isaah Yeo (1 vote v Warriors) and Tom Trbojevic and Zac Lomax, both of whom did not play at Magic Round.
Lomax will return to action in Round 12 to face the Bulldogs in the final round before voting goes behind closed doors.
Dally M Leaderboard after Round 11
- 30 points — Dylan Edwards (Panthers)
- 30 points — Nicho Hynes (Sharks)
- 23 points — Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs)
- 22 points — Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)
- 21 points — Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins)
- 21 points — Isaah Yeo (Panthers)
- 21 points — Zac Lomax (Dragons)
- 21 points — Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)
- 21 points — Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)
- 18 points — Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys)
