LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
In Round 16 of the NRL, Sydney Roosters' fullback James Tedesco solidified his position as the frontrunner in Zero Tackle's NRL MVP standings with an impressive 16-vote performance.
His score has extended his lead to a significant 26 votes ahead of Terrell May, the Wests Tigers prop, who remains in second place.
Tedesco now has a total lead that puts him nine votes ahead of May, emphasizing his dominance in the current rankings.
Following Tedesco and May, the trio of players vying for recognition include Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth, Broncos prop Payne Haas, and South Sydney Rabbitohs second-rower Keaon Koloamatangi, all of whom accumulated either 12 or 13 votes.
They are maintaining competitive rankings, remaining within 60 votes of the top.
Canberra forward Joseph Tapine also made a notable leap in the rankings, moving into the top ten after a commendable performance that earned him 16 votes.
Meanwhile, Isaiah Iongi stood out among five players who each received a full score of 20 votes in this round.
Iongi's performance places him as the highest-ranked among them, currently sitting in equal 25th position overall.
Other players who garnered recognition include Josh Papalii, Tapine, Alex Johnston, and Latrell Mitchell, all receiving votes as "best on ground" from at least one judge.
Overall, the competition for the NRL MVP is intensifying as Tedesco continues to lead, while several players aim to close the gap in upcoming rounds.