Nathan Cleary aims to become only the second Panther to win the Dally M Medal, a feat not achieved since Cameron Smith's 2017 victory.
Currently, Cleary leads the voting with 38 votes, a three-vote advantage over Warrior Jackson Ford and a six-vote lead over teammate Dylan Edwards.
A win for Cleary would mirror the accomplishments of Greg Alexander, who won the Dally M Medal in 1985 shortly after receiving Rookie of the Year honors.
If Ford can catch Cleary, he would join Roger Tuivasa-Sheck as the only Warriors to claim the prestigious award.
Smith won the Dally M twice, first in 2006 and again in 2017, after leading mid-season with 17 votes, far ahead of his competitors.
In the last eight years, no player has maintained a lead into the final votes to secure the medal, mirroring Edwards's experience in 2024.
Edwards finished eighth with 34 votes, despite leading with 31 votes after Round 12.
Notably, Hughes surged from 16th place at the season's midpoint to narrowly win over Tedesco by a single vote.