Forget the most in-form outside back in the NRL, Zac Lomax is currently the best player in the league — at least according to the Dally M Medal standings.
The versatile Dragons flyer currently sits atop the leaderboard after Round 7, having picked up a maximum six votes after the Red V’s 30-12 win over the Warriors.
Lomax has been in fine form to open the 2024 season, scoring six tries to go with five linebreaks and 30 tackle busts while averaging 166 run metres per game.
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It has seen the soon-to-be Eel storm into Origin calculations, with coach Shane Flanagan declaring it will take a “very good winger or centre” to keep Lomax out of NSW’s team.
“I think he needs to be discussed, let’s be fair dinkum about it,” Flanagan said.
“He’s the form winger and form centre. He’s just in form. In Origin you need to have players like that. He comes up with big plays in big moments and I think in Origin, that’s what you need.”
Lomax leads the way on 19 Dally M points but is closely trailed by Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic, who is tied-second on 18 alongside Bulldogs second rower Viliame Kikau.
Kikau had an injury-interrupted 2023 season but the Bulldogs are finally starting to see results after splashing a reported $3.2 million on the premiership-winning forward.
The former Panther has helped transform Canterbury’s left edge attack into one of the most explosive in the league, averaging 98 metres to go with 20 tackle busts, three linebreaks and six linebreak assists.
All of those numbers surpass the figures Kikau put up last year and in two fewer games.
There are more of the usual suspects tied for third on the leaderboard, with star fullback duo Dylan Edwards and Kalyn Ponga both on 17 points.
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2022 Dally M player of the year Nicho Hynes, meanwhile, is in the frame for the honour once more, sitting on 16 points after picking up three in Cronulla’s 42-6 win over North Queensland.
He is joined by another early surprise contender in Dolphins playmaker Isaiya Katoa, who has been one of the competition’s most-improved players in the early stages of the 2024 season.
Katoa has seven try assists and five linebreak assists already through five games, having recorded 11 in both categories last year in 22 appearances.
DALLY M LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 7
19 points
Zac Lomax (Dragons)
18 points
Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)
Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs)
17 points
Dylan Edwards (Panthers)
Kalyn Ponga (Knights)
16 points
Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins)
Nicho Hynes (Sharks)
15 points
Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)
14 points
Pat Carrigan (Broncos)
13 points
Ben Hunt (Dragons)
12 points
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
Reece Walsh (Broncos)
Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys)
Source Agencies
