The 2014 Willie M Medal: Round 18

We are down to the final eight rounds and there are 12 players within six points at the top of the leaderboard. One has been sacked from his club. Three are now mired in reserve grade.  Ben Hampton has been pushed to the fringes. Jack Wighton is hurt. That leaves the race – most likely – down to Joey Leilua, James Maloney, Ben Barba, Josh McCrone, Peter Hiku and Chris Lawrence. We are set for a thrilling finish … buckle up … a new Willie M Medal is about to be crowned. Ben Barba could become the first player to go from Dally M to Willie M in two years, Lawrence an Australian jersey to same in three.

Manly v Wests Tigers
3-Martin Taupau (Tig)
2-Luke Brooks (Tig)
1-James Gavet (Tig)
Judge: Nick Tedeschi

New Zealand v Parramatta
3-Corey Norman (Par)
2-Luke Kelly (Par)
1-Willie Tonga (Par)
Judge: Richie Stretell

Melbourne v Canterbury
3-Marika Korobiete (Mel)
2-Tony Williams (Bul)
1-Ryan Hoffman (Mel)
Judge: Tim Malone

Gold Coast v Canberra
3-Mo Blair (GC)
2-Sami Saulima (Can)
1-Beau Falloon (GC)
Judge: Adrian Flanagan

Cronulla v Newcastle
3-Andrew Fifita (Cro)
2-Luke Lewis (Cro)
1-Darius Boyd (New)
Judge: Nathan Boss

Penrith v Brisbane
3-Ben Barba (Bri)
2-Jamal Idris (Pen)
1-Corey Oates (Bri)
Judge: Nick Tedeschi

Leaderboard
16: Joey Leilua (New)
15: Blake Ayshford (Cro)
13: Jack Wighton (Can)
12: Daniel Holdsworth (Cro), James Maloney (Roo), Josh McCrone (Can),  Ben Barba (Bri)
11: Todd Carney (Cro)
10: Ben Hampton (Mel), Peter Hiku (Man), Chris Lawrence (Tig), Bill Tupou (Can)