Josh Hodgson extends lead at the top of the Dally M leaderboard

CANBERRA hooker Josh Hodgson has extended his lead at the top of the Dally M leaderboard and now is four points clear of his nearest rivals.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 19: Josh Hodgson of the Raiders prepares to pass the ball during the round three NRL match between the Newcastle Knights and the Canberra Raiders at Hunter Stadium on March 19, 2016 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)

Sam Burgess and James Graham have already proven themselves as among the very best in the NRL.

But Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson is the latest Englishman winning his place among the game’s very elite.

At the start of the season you could have got $67 on Hodgson winning this year’s Dally M Medal.

But the clever No 9 is expected to firm even further in betting today, after opening up a significant lead on his rivals after four rounds.

On the back of another brilliant performance in the Raiders’ loss to Gold Coast on Saturday, where Hodgson set up two tries with clever dummy half play, he has moved to 10 points on the Dally M ladder, four points clear of his nearest rival.

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Canterbury’s Moses Mbye is next in line on 6 points, ahead of Aiden Tolman and Greg Inglis on five points.

Going into round four, Johnathan Thurston was still a clear $7 favourite with the TAB ahead of Inglis at $9 and Daly Cherry-Evans at $11, Anthony Milford at $13 and then Hodgson fifth in betting at $15.

Hodgson continues to win praise from everyone in the game, including rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler who both spoke glowingly about his form and vision on The Sunday Footy Show.

Johns said his dummy half play was right up with the best.

DAMAGE CONTROL: More blunders for the NRL

COMPENSATION: Manly want a fair go

“That pass when he put (fellow Englishman Elliott Whitehead) over with not a hand laid on him, the deception with his hands and the way he used his eyes to get the defenders was pretty good,” Johns said.

“Considering they have got their halves out too (Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin) he has taken extra responsibility.”

Hodgson will go up against his England teammate Graham next Monday when the Raiders tackle the Bulldogs at Belmore.

Tap here to check out the full Dally M leaderboard

Round 4

Roosters v Sea Sagles

Judge: Greg Alexander

3 S Kenny-Dowall (SYD)

2 D Walker (MAN)

1 S Taukeiaho (SYD)

Shaun Kenny-Dowall picked up three points in a beaten side against Manly.

Raiders v Titans

Judge: Gary Belcher

3 R James (GCT)

2 J Hodgson (CAN)

1 D Shillington (GCT)

Broncos v Cowboys

Judge: D Lockyer

3 A Milford (BRI)

2 L Coote (NQL)

1 J Roberts (BRI)

Rabbitohs v Bulldogs

Judge: Brett Finch

3 M Mbye (CBY)

2 A Tolman (CBY)

1 J Graham (CBY)

Dragons v Panthers

Judge: Andrew Johns

3 J Dugan (STG)

2 M Rein (STG)

1 J De Belin (STG

BLESSING: Teammates back Hopoate stance

STAYING: Dugan to remain at fullback

Round 3

Cowboys v Roosters

Judge: Andrew Johns

3 J Tamou (NQL)

2 J Taumalolo (NQL)

1 M Morgan (NQL)

Eels v Bulldogs

Judge: Brett Finch

3 S Radradra (PAR)

2 T Moeroa (PAR)

1 M Gordon (PAR)

Knights v Raiders

Judge: Greg Alexander

3 J Hodgson (CAN)

2 J Mullen (NEW)

1 J Smith (NEW)

Panthers v Broncos

Judge: Gary Belcher

3 T Martin (PEN)

2 J McGuire (BRI)

1 B Cartwright (PEN)

Titans v Tigers

Judge: Kevin Walters

3 A Taylor (GCT)

2 A Paasi (GCT)

1 K Naiqama (WST)

Warriors v Storm

Judge: Daryl Halligan

3 J Bromwich (MEL)

2 B Matulino (NZ)

1 C Cronk (MEL)

Rabbitohs v Dragons

Judge: Andrew Johns

3 M Rein (STG)

2 J Dugan (STG)

1 T Frizell (STG)

Sea Eagles v Sharks

Judge: Greg Alexander

3 J Trbojevic (MAN)

2 A Fifita (CRO)

1 D Cherry-Evans (MAN)

Hodgson is the runaway leader so far this season.

Round 2

Panthers v Bulldogs

Judge: Andrew Johns

3 M Mbye (CBY)

2 S McKendry (PEN)

1 W Hopoate (CBY)

Broncos v Warriors

Judge: Darren Lockyer

3 A Glenn (BRI)

2 D Boyd (BRI)

1 S Kata (NZ)

Eels v Cowboys

Judge: Greg Alexander

3 M Ma’u (PAR)

2 C Norman (PAR)

1 L Coote (NQL)

Rabbitohs v Knights

Judge: Kevin Walters

3 S Burgess (SOU)

2 G Inglis (SOU)

1 A Gray (SOU)

Raiders v Roosters

Judge: Gary Belcher

3 J Papalii (CAN)

2 J Hodgson (CAN)

1 S Taukeiaho (SYD)

Sharks v Dragons

Judge: Brett Finch

3 C Townsend (CRO)

2 A Fifita (CRO)

1 W Graham (CRO)

Storm v Titans

3 C Munster (MEL)

2 C Smith (MEL)

1 B Green (MEL)

Tigers v Sea Eagles

Judge: Greg Alexander

3 J Tedesco (WST)

2 M Moses (WST)

1 L Brooks (WST)

Round 1

Eels v Broncos

Judge: Darren Lockyer

3 Corey Oates (BRI)

2 Matt Gillet (BRI)

1 Manu Ma’u (PAR)

Sea Eagles v Bulldogs

Judge: Brett Finch

3 A Tolman (CBY)

2 J Graham (CBY)

1 J Reynolds (CBY)

Raiders v Panthers

Judge: Gary Belcher

3 J Hodgson (CAN)

2 A Sezer (CAN)

1 B Cartwright (PEN)

Tigers v Warriors

Judge: Greg Alexander

3 M Moses (WST)

2 A Woods (WST)

1 S Sue (WST)

Cowboys v Sharks

Judge: Kevin Walters

3 M Morgan (NQL)

2 E Lowe (NQL)

1 J Bird (CRO)

Roosters v Rabbitiohs

Judge: Andrew Johns

3 G Inglis (SOU)

2 A Reynolds (SOU)

1 S Burgess (SOU)

Titans v Knights

Judge: Gary Belcher

3 G Bird (GCT)

2 A Paasi (GCT)

1 A Taylor (GCT)

Storm v Dragons

3 B Slater (MEL)

2 W Chambers (MEL)

1 B Marshall (STG)

LEADERBOARD

AFTER 4 GAMES (prior to Easter Monday)

10 J Hodgson (CAN)

6 M Mbye (CBY)

5 G Inglis (SOU)

5 A Tolman (CBY)

5 M Rein (STG)

5 M Moses (WST)

5 J Dugan (STG)

4 M Ma’u (PAR)

4 A Taylor (GCT)

4 M Morgan (NQL)

4 A Paasi (GCT)

4 A Fifita (CRO)

4 S Burgess (SOU)

3 C Oates (BRI)

3 J Tedesco (WST)

3 J Graham (CBY)

3 S Kenny-Dowall (SYD)

3 G Bird (GCT)

3 J Tamou (NQL)

3 C Townsend (CRO)

3 R James (GCT)

3 C Munster (MEL)

3 J Bromwich (MEL)

3 B Slater (MEL)

3 A Milford (BRI)

3 J Trbojevic (MAN)

3 T Martin (PEN)

3 L Coote (NQL)

3 A Glenn (BRI)

3 J Papalii (CAN)

2 J Taumalolo (NQL)

2 J Mullen (NEW)

2 M Gillett (BRI)

2 D Walker (MAN)

2 A Sezer (CAN)

2 A Woods (WST)

2 B Matulino (NZ)

2 E Lowe (NQL)

2 A Reynolds (SOU)

2 W Chambers (MEL)

2 J McGuire (BRI)

2 S McKendry (PEN)

2 B Cartwright (PEN)

2 C Smith (MEL)

2 D Boyd (BRI)

2 S Taukeiaho (SYD)

2 C Norman (PAR)

1 J Reynolds (CBY)

1 J De Belin (STG)

1 S Sue (WST)

1 J Roberts (BRI)

1 W Graham (CRO)

1 J Bird (CRO)

1 L Brooks (WST)

1 T Frizell (STG)

1 K Naiqama (WST)

1 C Cronk (MEL)

1 D Cherry-Evans (MAN)

1 B Marshall (STG)

1 W Hopoate (CBY)

1 D Shillington (GCT)

1 B Green (MEL)

1 S Kata (NZ)

1 J Smith (NEW)

1 A Gray (SOU)

Originally published as Josh Hodgson extends lead at the top of the Dally M leaderboard