Five Leaders Shine: Zero Tackle’s NRL MVP in Round 9

Scott Drinkwater Maintains Lead in Zero Tackle’s NRL MVP Race

North Queensland Cowboys’ star player, Scott Drinkwater, continues to lead the pack in Zero Tackle’s NRL MVP race at the end of Round 9. Despite not being named man of the match for any of the judges during the game against the Canterbury Bulldogs, Drinkwater managed to secure 16 votes, maintaining a significant gap over key competitors such as Jackson Ford, Latrell Mitchell, and Nathan Cleary.

Jackson Ford came close, trailing by just one vote, while Latrell Mitchell shares the third position with Nathan Cleary. Cleary was one of five players who achieved a perfect 20 points in Round 9, showcasing his exceptional performance on the field.

The other three games saw a mix of notable performances, with players like Matthew Timoko, Kaeo Weekes, Erin Clark, Jackson Ford, James Tedesco, and Naufahu Whyte receiving votes from at least one judge as player of the match.

Among those who scored a perfect 20, only Cleary is ranked within the top ten. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki is the closest among the outsiders, holding the 13th spot. However, most of the players in the top ten have accumulated points, with James Tedesco and Dylan Edwards retaining their positions in the top six from the previous week. Additionally, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula, and Tanah Boyd have made progress with strong point totals.

How the Voting System Works

To provide clarity on the voting process, the panel consists of Zero Tackle founder Matt Clements, journalist Leo Twemlow, writer Dan Nichols, and myself as the editor. Each member casts votes using a 5-4-3-2-1 system for every game of the premiership season.

Here are the Round 9 votes: