A pectoral injury to Melbourne captain Cameron Smith has thrown the Dally M Medal race wide open, with the Storm hooker to spend time on the sidelines.
Dragons five-eighth Gareth Widdop moved within touching distance of Smith in NRL.com's unofficial tally, with a starring role in St George-Illawarra's 52-22 rout of Manly at WIN Stadium.
Widdop moved to equal second with Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, just three points behind Smith. Widdop produced two try assists, a length of the field intercept, 173 running metres and kicked eight goals in a dominant performance against the Sea Eagles to keep his side firmly in the NRL Telstra Premiership top eight.
Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce moved to fifth on the unofficial list, registering two points in his side's win over Newcastle.
Cronulla forward Wade Graham moved up to ninth in the count, scoring one point in the Sharks' comfortable win over the Rabbitohs.
NRL.com's unofficial Dally M leaderboard after Round 20
Player | Points |
Cameron Smith | 22 |
Daly Cherry-Evans | 19 |
Gareth Widdop | 19 |
Clinton Gutherson | 17 |
Mitchell Pearce | 17 |
Paul Gallen | 16 |
Michael Morgan | 16 |
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck | 15 |
Wade Graham | 15 |
Paul Vaughan | 15 |
NRL.com's unofficial rankings are based on ratings attributed to players in each game by nrl.com staff following the official Dally M points going behind closed doors after Round 14. The rankings are in no way based on official Dally M points after Round 14, which will not be released until the official announcement of the Dally M winner in Grand Final Week.
