Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards has moved six points clear in the Dally M race after collecting maximum votes in Round 10.
In a game dominated by headlines around Nathan Cleary's hamstring woes, Edwards once again stepped up for the Panthers to lead Ivan Cleary's side – amassing an incredible 254 run metres and 10 tackle breaks in the 16-10 win.
With 18 points in the last four weeks, the Blues hopeful now finds himself six points clear of Nicho Hynes, who missed Cronulla's win over Melbourne with a calf injury.
Hynes – who had been leading the Dally M race for several weeks – is no certainty to return in Round 11 when the Sharks face the in-form Roosters, while Edwards could extend his lead against a Warriors side that has lost its last four.
Currently level with Zac Lomax on 21 points in fourth position, Manly ace Tom Trbojevic is expected to fall out of the top 10 of voting in the coming weeks with news he is set to spend the next two months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
Kalyn Ponga (17 points) has seen a similar story following a foot injury in Round 7, dropping back to just sit level in equal tenth position heading into Magic Round.
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Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo (20 points) continues to climb his way up the ladder, now into sixth alongside Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans, while Ben Hunt collected three points in the Dragons' win over South Sydney to join the top 10.
Both Hunt and Lomax, however, won't climb any higher in the coming week with St George Illawarra on the bye heading into the NRL's Magic Round weekend.
They will return to action in Round 12 to face Canterbury in the final round before voting goes behind closed doors.
Dally M Leaderboard after Round 10
- 30 points – Dylan Edwards (Panthers)
- 24 points – Nicho Hynes (Sharks)
- 23 points – Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs)
- 21 points – Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)
- 21 points – Zac Lomax (Dragons)
- 20 points – Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)
- 20 points – Isaah Yeo (Panthers)
- 18 points – Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins)
- 18 points – Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)
- 17 points – Ben Hunt (Dragons)
- 17 points – James Tedesco (Roosters)
- 17 points – Kalyn Ponga (Knights)
