Dally M votes for Round 8, 2018: Kalyn Ponga flies into lead for league’s highest honour

KALYN Ponga could become the youngest Dally M winner in three decades if his current form continues. Full Dally M votes for Round 8 and the current leaderboard.

Kalyn Ponga of the Knights is seen in action during the Round 6 NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and the Newcastle Knights at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Friday, April 13, 2018. (AAP Image/Julian Smith) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY (AAP Image/Julian Smith) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

COULD Kalyn Ponga win it all?

The Knights fullback has lit up the competition so far this season for the resurgent Novocastrians and his latest exploits, a man-of-the-match performance against Manly, has him at the top of the Dally M leaderboard.

Ponga has a clear two-point lead at the top of the ladder, ahead of injured teammate Mitchell Pearce and polls well every week, even when the Knights lose.

What a talent 🌟🌟🌟 pic.twitter.com/nQErNRJQEb

— telegraph_sport (@telegraph_sport) April 30, 2018

If he was to go on and win, Ponga would be the youngest Dally M winner since Greg Alexander, who picked up the medal as a 20-year-old in 1985.

Jai Arrow and James Maloney also picked up votes to move into equal third, three points behind Ponga.

* The Dally M leaderboard has been updated after Greg Alexander was appointed to re-watch the Parramatta-Manly match from Round 7. This came after the NRL announced the votes of original judge Ruan Sims were invalid.

ROUND 8 DALLY M VOTES

Dragons v Roosters

Judge: Andrew Johns

T Frizell 3

T Sims 2

B Hunt 1

Storm v Warriors

Judge: Danny Buderus

B Slater 3

J Addo-Carr 2

N Asofa-Solomona 1

Rabbitohs v Broncos

Judge: Mark Geyer

A Glenn 3

C Oates 2

J Sutton 1

Sea Eagles v Knights

Judge: Braith Anasta

K Ponga 3

M Taupau 2

H Ese’ese 1

Panthers v Bulldogs

Judge: Darren Lockyer

J Maloney 3

J Fisher-Harris 2

R Campbell-Gillard 1

Titans v Sharks

Judge: Mark Riddell

C Townsend 3

A Fifita 2

J Arrow 1

Cowboys v Raiders

Judge: Kevin Walters

J Tapine 3

J Rapana 2

J Thurston 1

Eels v Tigers

Judge: Greg Alexander

M Ma’u 3

C Thompson 2

K Pritchard 1

ROUND 8 DALLY M LEADERBOARD

K Ponga 13

M Pearce 11

J Arrow 10

L Brooks 10

A Fifita 10

J Maloney 10

J de Belin 8

T Frizell 8

B Slater 8

R Tuivasa-Sheck 8

G Widdop 8

L Keary 7

J Leilua 7

B Marshall 7

A Taylor 7

N Cleary 6

D Cook 6

T Sims 6

J Taumalolo 6

J Fisher-Harris 5

I Luke 5

C Smith 5

J Tapine 5

C Cronk 4

D Edwards 4

T Harris 4

J Jackson 4

E Marsters 4

J Tedesco 4

C Townsend 4

J Trbojevic 4

N Asofa-Solomona 3

N Brown 3

S Burgess 3

D Cherry-Evans 3

M Dufty 3

R Faitala-Mariner 3

D Finucane 3

D Fusitu’a 3

A Glenn 3

B Green 3

S Havili 3

V Kikau 3

R Matterson 3

M Ma’u 3

M Mbye 3

A McCullough 3

C Munster 3

C Murray 3

R Packer 3

J Ramien 3

P Sami 3

M Taupau 3

J Thurston 3

T Trbojevic 3

T Burgess 2

A Crichton 2

B Croft 2

B Ferguson 2

K Foran 2

J Friend 2

J Granville 2

T Harris2

C Hess 2

B Hunt 2

D Klemmer 2

R Leutele 2

M Lino 2

N Macdonald 2

C McInnes 3

C Thompson 3

J Addo-Carr 2

R Hoffman 2

C Lawrence 2

J Morris 2

M Moylan 2

C Oates 2

J Rapana 2

K Sims 2

I Soliola 2

J Sutton 2

S Taukeiaho 2

E Taylor 2

C Walker 2

K Pritchard 2

C Norman 2

B Afoa 1

S Boyd 1

H Ese’ese 1

K Feldt 1

T Hodkinson 1

C Harawira-Naera 1

J Isaako 1

R James1

R Jennings 1

A Koroisau 1

M Lodge 1

S Mannering1

J Mansour 1

T Merrin 1

A Milford 1

D Napa 1

J Papalii 1

M Rein 1

R Rochow1

D Safiti 1

A Sezer 1

C Sironen 1

S Williams 1