Johnathan Thurston fires again but Aaron Woods still leads Dally M voting after Round 6

A THIRD-straight man-of-the-match performance for Johnathan Thurston — but was it enough to earn the Cowboys star top spot on the Dally M leaderboard?

Cowboy's Johnathan Thurston tries to get around Rabbitoh's Glenn Stewart during the round 6 NRL game between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium.Picture Gregg Porteous

A THIRD-straight man-of-the-match performance from Johnathan Thurston stole the headlines after round six of the NRL.

But while the Cowboys playmaker’s star showing earned his side a win over the defending champions South Sydney — and himself plaudits as rugby league’s greatest player — it wasn’t enough to claim top spot on the Dally M Medal leaderboard.

That honour continues to belong to Aaron Woods, who picked up another three points despite his side Wests Tigers falling to the Warriors in New Zealand.

The big prop takes sole claim of top spot six rounds into the season after leading from the front yet again for the Tigers with 20 runs for 181 metres against the monster Warriors pack.

Woods (10 points) leads Thurston (nine), with four players a further two points back in equal third place.

Man-of-the-match performances from Dragons star Benji Marshall and Panthers ace Matt Moylan saw that pair join Broncos halfback Ben Hunt and Warriors prop Ben Matulino on seven points.

DALLY M MEDAL ROUND 5: Aaron Woods and Ben Matulino the shock Dally M leaders

ROUND SIX

Sharks v Knights

Judge: Brad Fittler

3 M Ennis (CRO)

2 A Fifita (CRO)

1 J Bird (CRO)

Broncos v Roosters

Judge: Darren Lockyer

3 S Thaiday (BRI)

2 J Friend (SYD)

1 B Hunt (BRI)

Eels v Titans

Judge: Greg Alexander

3 W Zillman (GCT)

2 G Bird (GCT)

1 J Roberts (GCT)

Warriors v Tigers

Judge: Daryl Halligan

3 A Woods (WST)

2 T Lolohea (NZ)

1 B Thompson (NZ)

Aaron Woods leads the Dally M voting after six rounds.

Panthers v Sea Eagles

Judge: Gary Belcher

3 M Moylan (PEN)

2 J Segeyaro (PEN)

1 S Matai (MAN)

Raiders v Storm

Judge: Mark Gasnier

3 J Bromwich (MEL)

2 I Soliola (CAN)

1 C Munster (MEL)

Dragons v Bulldogs

Judge: Brad Fittler

3 B Marshall (STG)

2 D Farrell (STG)

1 J Thompson (STG)

Rabbitohs v Cowboys

Judge: Greg Alexander

3 J Thurston (NQL)

2 G Cooper (NQL)

1 J Taumalolo (NQL)

FULL LEADERBOARD

10 A Woods (WST)

9 J Thurston (NQL)

7 B Matulino (NZ)

7 B Hunt (BRI)

7 B Marshall (STG)

7 M Moylan (PEN)

6 C Sandow (PAR)

6 J Maloney (SYD)

6 J Bromwich (MEL)

6 B Morris (CTB)

6 J Segeyaro (PEN)

5 M Pearce (SYD)

5 G Bird (GCT)

5 J Taumalolo (NQL)

5 B Austin (CAN)

5 G Inglis (SOU)

4 T Hodkinson (CBY)

4 K Snowden (NEW)

4 J Soward (PEN)

4 T Merrin (STG)

4 J Bird (CRO)

4 D Cherry-Evans (MAN)

4 P Richards (WST)

4 J Tedesco (WST)

4 C Parker (BRI)

3 J Mullen (NEW)

3 K Gidley (NEW)

3 M Vatuvei (NZ)

3 G Burgess (SOU)

3 M Koroibete (MEL)

3 C Smith (MEL)

3 W Zillman (GCT)

3 J McGuire (BRI)

3 J Kahu (BRI)

3 S Thaiday (BRI)

3 J Wighton (CAN)

3 I Soliola (CAN)

3 M Ennis (CRO)

3 A Reynolds (SOU)

3 J Nightingale (STG)

3 D Gaigai (NEW)

3 J Dugan (STG)

3 B Green (MEL)

3 R James (GCT)

3 J Thompson (STG)

3 I Luke (SOU)

3 C Norman (PAR)

3 S Fensom (CAN)

3 R Tuivasa-Sheck (SYD)

3 J Jackson (CBY)

2 M Aubusson (SYD)

2 B Slater (MEL)

2 J Friend (SYD)

2 B Hannant (NQL)

2 N Peats (PAR)

2 J Graham (CBY)

2 G Cooper (NQL)

2 D Farrell (STG)

2 M Scott (NQL)

2 M Taupau (WST)

2 A Sezer (GCT)

2 L Keary (SOU)

2 J Hodges (BRI)

2 V Holmes (CRO)

2 T Harris (MEL)

2 A Milford (BRI)

2 M Gillett (BRI)

2 P Gallen (CRO)

2 T Moeroa (PAR)

2 T Roberts (NEW)

2 B Scott (NEW)

2 A Fifita (CRO)

2 N Myles (GCT)

2 T Lolohea (NZ)

2 L Brooks (WST)

2 A Guerra (SYD)

2 D Finucane (MEL)

1 F Mateo (MAN)

1 A Vete (NZ)

1 K Moseley (GCT)

1 J Robson (CRO)

1 J Leilua (NEW)

1 L Coote (NQL)

1 S Waqa (CAN)

1 M Ma’u (PAR)

1 B Stewart (MAN)

1 C Munster (MEL)

1 S Matai (MAN)

1 J Roberts (GCT)

1 C Cronk (MEL)

1 B Thompson (NZ)

1 E Taylor (PEN)

1 C McQueen (SOU)

1 J Idris (PEN)

1 M Cooper (STG)

1 J Rapana (CAN)

Originally published as Johnathan Thurston fires again but Aaron Woods still leads Dally M voting after Round 6