Raiders rookie Ethan Sanders, Warriors workhorse Jackson Ford, Sharks playmaker Braydon Trindall and 2023 Dally M Medal winner Kalyn Ponga are setting the early pace in the race for the game's most prestigious individual honour.
Ponga set the standard with a superb display in the Knights' win over the Cowboys in Las Vegas before Ford, Trindall and Sanders produced outstanding performances to also collect the full six votes on offer.
Ford was mammoth for the Warriors with 218 metres from 22 runs while Trindall scored two tries and laid on four more in Cronulla's 50-10 thumping of the Titans.
Playing just his fifth NRL game, Sanders then stepped up to nail a match-winning field goal in golden point as the Raiders edged Manly 29-28 in a thriller at 4 Pines Park.
The winning moment: Enter Ethan Sanders
Dally M Medal Round 1 votes
Match: Knights v Cowboys
Round 1 -
home Team
Knights
5th Position
away Team
Cowboys
13th Position
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Knights v Cowboys
- Dally M votes: Kalyn Ponga 6, Dylan Brown 4, Dom Young 1, Bradman Best 1.
Match: Bulldogs v Dragons
Round 1 -
home Team
Bulldogs
7th Position
away Team
Dragons
11th Position
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Bulldogs v Dragons
- Dally M votes: Stephen Crichton 5, Viliame Kikau 3, Matt Burton 2, Lachlan Galvin 1, Damien Cook 1.
Match: Storm v Eels
Round 1 -
home Team
Storm
1st Position
away Team
Eels
17th Position
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Storm v Eels
- Dally M votes: Harry Grant 5, Stefano Utoikamanu 5, Joe Chan 1, Sua Faalogo 1.
Match: Warriors v Roosters
Round 1 -
home Team
Warriors
4th Position
away Team
Roosters
14th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Warriors v Roosters
- Dally M votes: Jackson Ford 6, James Tedesco 3, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2, Tanah Boyd 1.
Match: Broncos v Panthers
Round 1 -
home Team
Broncos
15th Position
away Team
Panthers
3rd Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Broncos v Panthers
- Dally M votes: Dylan Edwards 5, Isaah Yeo 5, Nathan Cleary 2.
Match: Sharks v Titans
Round 1 -
home Team
Sharks
2nd Position
away Team
Titans
16th Position
Venue: Ocean Protect Stadium, Sydney
Sharks v Titans
- Dally M votes: Braydon Trindall 6, Nicho Hynes 4, Jesse Ramien 2.
Match: Sea Eagles v Raiders
Round 1 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
10th Position
away Team
Raiders
8th Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Sea Eagles v Raiders
- Dally M votes: Ethan Sanders 6, Tom Trbojevic 2, Hudson Young 2, Tolu Koula 2.
Match: Dolphins v Rabbitohs
Round 1 -
home Team
Dolphins
12th Position
away Team
Rabbitohs
6th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Dolphins v Rabbitohs
- Dally M votes: Cody Walker 3, Cameron Murray 3, Keaon Koloamatangi 2, Isaiya Katoa 2, David Fifita 1, Latrell Mitchell 1.
