NRL (after round 18)

• Nathan Cleary - 44
• Dylan Edwards - 44
• Jackson Ford - 39
• Braydon Trindall - 38
• Haumole Olakau'atu - 35

NRLW (after round eight)

• Raecene McGregor - 26
• Tarryn Aiken - 23
• Tamika Upton - 19
• Jessica Sergis - 18
• Teagan Levi - 16

Here's the leaderboard before voting went secret:

• 38: Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
• 35: Jackson Ford (Warriors)
• 32: Dylan Edwards (Panthers)
• 29: Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys)
• 27: James Tedesco (Roosters)
• 23: Braydon Trindall (Sharks)
• 22: Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles)
• 20: Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers), Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs)
• 19: Kalyn Ponga (Knights)
• 18: Harry Grant (Storm), Jake Clifford (Cowboys)

When NRLW voting went behind closed doors after round four, Tamika Upton had 12 points, with Roosters playmaker Tarryn Aiken (11), Raiders fullback Sheridan Gallagher (11), Brisbane halfback Jesse Southwell (10) and rugby sevens star turned Titans five-eighth Teagan Levi (9) trailing just behind.

We're about to receive our first batch of updates from the secret voting in rounds 5-8.

The Broncos had a dip here, but Tamika Upton does enough to nab seven votes.

Even so, she is bumped off top spot by Aiken and 2022 winner Raecene McGregor, who picked up 20 points to jump to top spot on 26 overall.

Aiken is next on 23 votes, with Upton on 19. Jess Sergis and NRLW rookie Teagan Levi are next on 18 and 16.

After 11 regular season games, what are the odds that two players would have scored exactly the same number of points — 98.

Also remarkable, Jocelyn Kelleher and Jesse Southwell both scored just one try each, making their hauls as goal-kickers a true testament to their teams' success this season.

Frantic, frenetic and flashy, Mackenzie Wiki finished off this insane passage of play against the Gold Coast Titans in round nine.

Remarkably it was one of three she scored on the day.

Hi Bailey,

With Nathan Cleary healing up at home, I'd imagine Ivan Cleary will be accepting it on his behalf.

After a dramatic, inspiring and heartbreaking year, Jai Arrow has been handed the Provan-Summons Medal.

It's awarded to the player who has displayed the true spirit of the game, measured against four values: respect, honesty, bravery and sportsmanship.

Hard to argue with that one.

He's expected to be honoured again at the grand final on Sunday, but he says he has been told "nothing" about it.

There have been some spectacular tries scored this year, but I think the NRL is right to hand it to Alex Johnston for the long-range effort that broke Ken Irvine's record and sparked a pitch invasion.

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Heavy Dally M favourite Nathan Cleary is back home after the first of two surgeries.

He's had his left leg repaired after that gruesome compound fracture, and will be going back in to repair his broken right foot.

"He's pretty sore, but he's doing OK," dad and Panthers coach Ivan Cleary tells Fox Sports.

"He came home today. Back in Saturday for round two."

Ivan says it was a rough day for the whole Cleary clan on Sunday.

"It's a tough go, but it is what it is.

"Probably the first time in my coaching career with Nat where the line between dad and coach was a bit fuzzy."

As for Nathan's prospects of winning the top gong:

"I'm sure he'd be absolutely thrilled, it's a huge award. They don't play the game for individual awards and they'd much prefer to be on two legs in a grand final this week.

"That didn't work out, but of course if that happens he'd be stoked and we'd all be super proud."

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The Warriors prop was right at the top of the Dally M voting when it went behind closed doors after round 12, but injured his pectoral in round 16 and didn't play again in the regular season.

When he finally came back in the finals, he injured his ankle as the Warriors went out in straight sets.

Oh, and he also missed out on an Origin spot when a NSW front row slot was absolutely up for grabs.

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A lot of parents and kids on the red carpet in both directions.

We've already seen Tahlia O'Brien and Julia Robinson with their parents, and James Fisher-Harris with his daughter.

And now we've got Jayme Fressard with her young one, and Jocelyn Kelleher accompanied by her ma.

You love to see it. Mums on the lash.

The NRL social admin could've posted anything of Titans superstar Jaime Chapman walking the red carpet, but put her on blast as she stumbled over her dress.

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Young Dragon Tahlia O'Brien is here with dad Craig just over a year after her mum passed away.

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Newcastle's Phoenix Crossland looked absolutely shattered at the league's judiciary yesterday, when he received confirmation he would miss this Sunday's grand final.

The season decider will be the first of four games he will sit out for his hip-drop tackle on Nathan Cleary.

Knights captain Kalyn Ponga says Crossland has been an exemplary professional despite the heartbreak.

"For someone that's missing out on a grand final and probably the most deserving person on our team, you wouldn't be able to tell today," Ponga says.

"His ability to park it and just do what's best for the team — it's the reason why he deserves to be in one, but it just speaks on his character.

"Today at training he was the best teammates and he's just looking forward to us getting out there."

NRL boss Peter V'Landys is speaking to the ABC's Myles Houlbrook-Walk, hinting at pre-grand final performances he says "everyone will be very happy and impressed with".

But he's quick to point out that the show will be about one man, and one man only.

"You'll see, there'll be superstar Australian performers is what we'll say and everyone will be very happy and impressed with what we've got," V'landys says. 

"But it's not about them it's about Jai, it's about what Jai does, he inspires people.

"We've received a lot of correspondence in at the NRL how his inspiration has made them see through their illnesses."

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I'm pretty confident David Fifita isn't nominated for NRL back rower of the year, so I think he's just here as arm candy for Tigers forward Shaylee Bent.

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Tommy Talau and Jess Sergis have been together for a little while now, but the engaged pair are now both in Bondi with the Roosters.

Both have been named in their respective teams' squads for Sunday's grand finals, but I'd imagine only Sergis will actually be taking the field.

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Peter V'landys is a very wealthy man, so I have to ask about the shoes he's rocking tonight.

What are those?! (Getty)

I assume they provide phenomenal arch support.

If he has a condition, please forgive this, but brother, at least give them a spit polish.

Jai Arrow with wife Berina Colakovic and teammate Campbell Graham. (Getty)

Campbell Graham is rolling stag tonight, so Jai Arrow and Berina Colakovic have taken him in as a very large adopted child.