Dally M Medal 2018: Nathan Cleary leads voting after Round 2

NATHAN Cleary and Mitchell Pearce are positioned at the top of the Dally M leaderboard and could soon go head to head for a New South Wales Origin jersey.

Penrith's Nathan Cleary has been superb in the opening two rounds. Picture: Brett Costello

THEY don’t hand out Dally M Medals after two rounds.

Same as they don’t hand out NSW Origin jumpers until 10 days before the series starts.

But there is something about Nathan Cleary’s start to the new NRL season that warrants genuine excitement.

The 20-year-old Penrith halfback has now scored back-to-back man of the match performances to claim the outright lead on the Dally M leaderboard on six points.

It puts him ahead of Newcastle duo Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga who are both on five points.

Penrith's Nathan Cleary has been superb in the opening two rounds. Picture: Brett Costello

Behind them is Gold Coast’s Jai Arrow and a resurgent Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on four points, followed by a stack of players on three.

And while so many more across the clubs have looked wonderful in the opening rounds, the emergence of Cleary as a matchwinner is the obvious biggest development in his game this year.

In Penrith’s two games so far against Parramatta and South Sydney, his team has trailed before Cleary stepped up to take both games by the scruff of the neck.

Always maintaining his trademark composure, but now with this added ability to seize the moment.

When the game is there to be won, he has owned it.

While it’s early, already people are saying this is why the NSW halfback spot will be Cleary’s to lose if he stays fit and in this form.

Pearce might have something to say about that if he continues on with his start for Newcastle.

While the Knights finished a game short of the grand final in 2013, this is the first time since the days of Andrew Johns they have had a halfback who demands control of the team.

In both wins against Manly and Canberra it was Pearce who came up with the clutch plays.

Pearce looks to be enjoying his football more than he has in years.

It is a great sign for the Knights.

And it has set up a battle between these two that will be played out in the coming months.

People will say Pearce has had his go at Origin, and it is time to move on.

Is Cleary ready is the next question, or will it be Mitch Moses?

Pearce has found a new home at the Knights.

Who else comes next.

All Brad Fittler can do is pick the player who deserves it the most.

Which is the thing about Cleary.

Even though he is Ivan’s son, he has worked relentlessly to stand where he is today.

They say when he was growing up he used to sit with his dad always working towards what he is now achieving.

When Ivan talked, Nathan listened.

Then he would go away and study the great playmakers.

Andrew Johns, Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston were his favourites.

Even as a kid, Cleary’s strength was always his attention to detail, and his work ethic.

He was never deemed the standout.

Not at any age.

But the thing about him, the thing that made everyone including his dad take notice, was that the difference between his best and worst was always minimal.

No matter what level he was playing, you could always count on him to play to near his best.

In that respect, nothing has really changed.

Except now Cleary is the standout.

And it’s all come through hard work.

DALLY M VOTES — ROUND 2

Dragons v Sharks

Judge: Andrew Ryan

T Frizell 3

N Macdonald 2

B Hunt 1

Roosters v Bulldogs

Judge: Ryan Girdler

L Keary 3

J Tedesco 2

D Napa 1

Broncos v Cowboys

Judge: Billy Moore

A McCullough 3

J Thurston 2

A Milford 1

Warriors v Titans

Judge: Daryl Halligan

T Harris 3

J Arrow 2

R Tuivasa-Sheck 1

Panthers v Rabbitohs

Judge: Mark Riddell

N Cleary 3

D Cook 2

T Merrin 1

Storm v Tigers

Judge: Brett Finch

B Marshall 3

E Taylor 2

L Brooks 1

Eels v Sea Eagles

Judge: Daryl Brohman

D Cherry-Evans 3

J Trbojevic 2

C Sironen 1

Raiders v Knights

Judge: Alan Tongue

Kalyn Ponga 3

M Pearce 2

S Boyd 1

DALLY M LEADERBOARD

N Cleary 6

M Pearce 5

K Ponga 5

J Arrow 4

R Tuivasa Sheck 4

D Cherry-Evans 3

T Frizell 3

T Harris 3

L Keary 3

B Marshall 3

E Marsters 3

A McCullough 3

C Munster 3

J Taumalolo 3

A Taylor 3

G Widdop 3

D Cook 2

B Croft 2

J de Belin 2

D Edwards 2

B Ferguson 2

J Granville 2

T Harris 2

N Macdonald 2

E Taylor 2

J Tedesco 2

J Thurston 2

J Trbojevic 2

L Brooks 1

S Boyd 1

K Feldt1

K Foran1

B Hunt 1

I Luke1

V Kikau 1

C McInnes 1

T Merrin 1

A Milford 1

D Napa 1

R Rochow 1

C Sironen 1

M Taupau 1

S Williams 1

Originally published as Dally M Medal 2018: Nathan Cleary leads voting after Round 2