Sydney Roosters forward Naufahu Whyte is the new overall leader in Zero Tackle's NRL MVP just four weeks out from the end of the season.

Dating back to 2021, when the MVP concept was launched on Zero Tackle, Payne Haas is the only winner of the award, while top 10 spots have only gone to forwards on eight occasions out of a possible 50.

Whyte is anything but a sure thing to win this year's award though, with a blanket thrown across the top six and beyond.

Dylan Edwards, who is currently sidelined, has fallen to second spot, while Scott Drinkwater's perfect 20 leaves him three votes off the lead in third.

Nathan Cleary only managed a single point, and is one behind him, while Haumole Olakau'atu is also exceptionally close just another eight votes off the lead.

Braydon Trindall, who failed to score in the Sharks' loss to the Dragons, is another vote back, with James Tedesco in seventh 26 votes off the lead.

Sua Fa'alogo, Nicho Hynes and Kalyn Ponga round out the top 10, although are a little further behind.

Round 23 saw a return to more unanimous man of the match efforts than in recent weeks, with Scott Drinkwater, Sua Fa'alogo, Max Plath, Keaon Koloamatangi and Dominic Young all polling a perfect 20, while the other games saw Luke Metcalf, Leka Halasima, Naufahu Whyte, Billy Smith, Ryan Couchman and Clint Gutherson polled with a five out of five by at least one judge.

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As a reminder of how this works, our panel, comprising Zero Tackle founder Matt Clements, journalist Leo Twemlow, and writer Dan Nichols, alongside myself as editor, will cast votes on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis from each game of the premiership season.

Here are all the Round 23 votes.

 2026-08-06T09:50:00Z 
Cowboys WON BY 22 POINTS
Cbus Super Stadium
GLD   
8
FT
30
   NQL
   Crowd: 11,740
MATCH CENTRE ▶︎   
  Matt Clements Scott Pryde Dan Nichols Leo Twemlow
5 Scott Drinkwater Scott Drinkwater Scott Drinkwater Scott Drinkwater
4 Heilum Luki Heilum Luki Heilum Luki Heilum Luki
3 Jaxon Purdue Braidon Burns Jaxon Purdue Braidon Burns
2 Jason Taumalolo Jason Taumalolo Braidon Burns Jaxon Purdue
1 Braidon Burns Phillip Sami Jason Taumalolo Phillip Sami
 2026-08-07T08:00:00Z 
Warriors WON BY 16 POINTS
Go Media Stadium
NZW   
28
FT
12
   PEN
   Crowd: 25,987
MATCH CENTRE ▶︎   
  Matt Clements Scott Pryde Dan Nichols Leo Twemlow
5 Leka Halasima Leka Halasima Luke Metcalf Luke Metcalf
4 Luke Metcalf Luke Metcalf Leka Halasima Leka Halasima
3 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad James Fisher-Harris James Fisher-Harris Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2 Thomas Jenkins Thomas Jenkins Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad James Fisher-Harris
1 Mitchell Barnett Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad Nathan Cleary Chanel Harris-Tavita
 2026-08-07T10:00:00Z 
Roosters WON BY 2 POINTS
Allianz Stadium
SYD   
20
FT
18
   CAN
   Crowd: 30,306
MATCH CENTRE ▶︎   
  Matt Clements Scott Pryde Dan Nichols Leo Twemlow
5 Billy Smith Naufahu Whyte Naufahu Whyte Naufahu Whyte
4 Naufahu Whyte Robert Toia Robert Toia Robert Toia
3 Lachlan Galvin Connor Tracey Billy Smith Billy Smith
2 Jacob Preston Jacob Preston Jacob Preston Jacob Preston
1 Jacob Kiraz Nat Butcher Jacob Kiraz Jacob Kiraz
 2026-08-08T05:00:00Z 
Storm WON BY 22 POINTS
HBF Park
MEL   
42
FT
20
   MAN
   Crowd: 15,169
MATCH CENTRE ▶︎   
  Matt Clements Scott Pryde Dan Nichols Leo Twemlow
5 Sua Fa'alogo Sua Fa'alogo Sua Fa'alogo Sua Fa'alogo
4 Cooper Clarke Haumole Olakau'atu Cooper Clarke Cooper Clarke
3 Hayden Watson Cooper Clarke Hayden Watson Hayden Watson
2 Haumole Olakau'atu Hayden Watson Haumole Olakau'atu Oryn Keeley
1 Oryn Keeley Oryn Keeley Oryn Keeley Stefano Utoikamanu
 2026-08-08T07:30:00Z 
Dolphins WON BY 8 POINTS
Suncorp Stadium
DOL   
40
FT
32
   BRI
   Crowd: 50,188
MATCH CENTRE ▶︎   
  Matt Clements Scott Pryde Dan Nichols Leo Twemlow
5 Max Plath Max Plath Max Plath Max Plath
4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
3 Connelly Lemuelu Billy Walters Connelly Lemuelu Billy Walters
2 Ezra Mam Ezra Mam Ezra Mam Ezra Mam
1 Billy Walters Connelly Lemuelu Billy Walters Connelly Lemuelu
 2026-08-08T09:30:00Z 
Rabbitohs WON BY 4 POINTS
Allianz Stadium
SOU   
28
FT
24
   PAR
   Crowd: 19,077
MATCH CENTRE ▶︎   
  Matt Clements Scott Pryde Dan Nichols Leo Twemlow
5 Keaon Koloamatangi Keaon Koloamatangi Keaon Koloamatangi Keaon Koloamatangi
4 Jack Williams Ronald Volkman Cody Walker Ronald Volkman
3 David Fifita Cody Walker Ronald Volkman Cody Walker
2 Cody Walker Jordan Samrani David Fifita Jordan Samrani
1 Jordan Samrani David Fifita Jordan Samrani David Fifita
 2026-08-09T04:00:00Z 
Knights WON BY 6 POINTS
GIO Stadium
CBR   
24
FT
30
   NEW
   Crowd: 8,507
MATCH CENTRE ▶︎   
  Matt Clements Scott Pryde Dan Nichols Leo Twemlow
5 Dominic Young Dominic Young Dominic Young Dominic Young
4 Francis Manuleleua Francis Manuleleua Francis Manuleleua Francis Manuleleua
3 Simi Sasagi Kaeo Weekes Simi Sasagi Kaeo Weekes
2 Kaeo Weekes Simi Sasagi Kaeo Weekes Simi Sasagi
1 Fletcher Sharpe Fletcher Sharpe Fletcher Sharpe Fletcher Sharpe
 2026-08-09T06:05:00Z 
Dragons WON BY 8 POINTS
St George Venues Stadium
STI   
24
FT
16
   CRO
   Crowd: 11,018
MATCH CENTRE ▶︎   
  Matt Clements Scott Pryde Dan Nichols Leo Twemlow
5 Ryan Couchman Ryan Couchman Clinton Gutherson Ryan Couchman
4 Hamish Stewart Hamish Stewart Ryan Couchman Hamish Stewart
3 Clinton Gutherson Clinton Gutherson Hamish Stewart Jacob Liddle
2 Sione Katoa Sione Katoa Jacob Liddle Clinton Gutherson
1 Setu Tu Jacob Liddle Billy Burns Billy Burns

Top Ten

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