'Career-best form': Timeless James Tedesco primed for Dally M tilt as surprise contenders for glittering prize emerge

Voting for the coveted Dally M Medal has officially gone behind closed doors, with a few superstars and plenty of surprise packets in the race.

Through three months of action, perhaps the most unlikely of candidates stands above a jam-packed top 10, with last year's winner Jahrome Hughes nowhere to be seen.

Surprisingly, just two players on the list have been selected for State of Origin duties, with some of those not in the NSW and Queensland teams incredibly unlucky.

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While there's a long way to go in the season and there are always players who make a late run, the top 10 gives a strong indication as to who will be in the running in October.

Let's take a look at the state of play for rugby league's top gong.

Luke Metcalf - 30 points

11 games, 7 tries, 4 try assists, 76 run metres per game

After a dismal start to the season in Las Vegas that had many calling for a change in the halves, few could have expected the form shown by Warriors star Luke Metcalf.

The injury-plagued speedster is playing the best football of his career and has managed to string more games together than his previous two seasons in Auckland.

Metcalf has formed a nice combination with Chanel Harris-Tavita, but has maintained his attacking style that had him highly touted coming through the ranks.

If the 26-year-old can keep going the way he is, the Warriors should be able to lock in a finals spot and there's reason to believe Metcalf will be thereabouts in the Dally M race.

Will Kennedy - 29 points

12 games, 4 tries, 5 try assists, 28 tackle breaks, 142 run metres per game

There wouldn't have been many who could have tipped Sharks fullback Will Kennedy to be flying this high on the leaderboard given the talent around him.

After all, teammate Nicho Hynes has already won the top gong in his career, while the likes of Addin Fonua-Blake, Braydon Trindall and Briton Nikora are elite players in their position.

However, it has been Kennedy who has stood above the pack, delivering consistent performances from the back and keeping Cronulla within striking distance of the top-four.

The ever-reliable Bathurst product isn't the flashiest No.1 in the world but is proving to be a vital cog in the wheel for the Sharks in the battle for the premiership.

James Tedesco - 28 points

11 games, 3 tries, 9 try assists, 70 tackle breaks, 200 run metres per game

What more can be said about this bloke?

More than a decade into his career, Roosters captain James Tedesco has continued to cement his legacy as one of the game's all-time greats.

The 32-year-old has stepped up to the plate in what was meant to be a rebuild year, leading by example for the fresh talent who have burst onto the scene at Bondi.

Tedesco's form has earned glowing praise as the Chooks continue to impress despite many writing them off before a ball was kicked this year.

"He's nearly in career-best form," Andrew Johns said on Nine's The Sunday Footy Show.

"The extra responsibility with all these younger players, he's in everything. I watched him really close - he pops up everywhere on the field, both in attack and defence.

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"The knock on Teddy over the years was that if you don't have that dominant voice, he could get in and try to do too much, but I think he's got the mix perfect.

"The extra responsibility has him close to career-best form."

Last season, Tedesco missed out on the prize by just one vote to Jahrome Hughes and it would be quite the story if six years after his first Dally M, the champion fullback rose to the top of the league once again despite being overlooked for State of Origin.

Terrell May - 27 points

11 games, 36 offloads, 39 tackle breaks, 174 run metres and 42 tackles per game

He's quickly become one of the most talked about players in the competition and a lot of that has to do with the way Terrell May has been performing for the Wests Tigers.

After a bizarre exit from the Roosters in the off-season, the enigmatic front-rower has set the tone for some phenomenal wins and put himself in the frame for an Origin debut.

May is the top-ranked forward right now when it comes to Dally M votes and he's been dominant on both sides of the ball for the joint venture.

The 26-year-old leads the competition for offloads and is ranked sixth for most tackles, with no other prop ahead of him in that statistic.

While it wasn't enough to earn a spot in the Blues team for game one, May's form has been absolutely brilliant and if he can keep going, higher honours surely await.

Isaiya Katoa - 23 points

12 games, 10 try assists, 8 forced dropouts, 109 run metres per game

This kid has grown up before our eyes and now, Isaiya Katoa has genuinely established himself as one of the best halfbacks in the game.

Still only 21 years of age, the Dolphins pivot has been remarkable this year and has led the side to victories over heavyweights Melbourne and Canterbury.

Katoa's poise and maturity has the likes of Andrew Johns salivating, while many are starting to realise it's a matter of when, not if, when it comes to an Origin call-up.

If he can continue on this trajectory and the Dolphins can find consistency, Katoa is a legitimate chance of becoming the youngest Dally M winner since Jarryd Hayne in 2009.

Payne Haas - 23 points

11 games, 67 tackle breaks, 32 offloads, 179 run metres and 34 tackles per game

Not only is Payne Haas the best prop in the world, there's a case to be made that the Broncos behemoth is the best player in all of rugby league.

Very few can impact a game quite like Haas, who has been enormous this year despite some of Brisbane's inconsistency in the win-loss column.

While it might be a tough task to go all the way and win the Dally M, it's hard to write the big bopper off given his gas tank and his consistency in club and rep football.

Clint Gutherson - 22 points

10 games, 5 tries, 6 try assists, 11 linebreaks, 175 run metres per game

There were plenty scratching their heads when Parramatta forced him out the door and Clint Gutherson has certainly proved a point to his former club this year.

St George Illawarra's inspirational fullback has relished a change of scenery, immediately becoming a fan favourite and helping the side to some quality victories.

Gutherson has been at his classy best in attack, while also giving the Dragons a bit more steel in their defensive line and coming up with some clutch try-savers himself.

It hasn't been all smooth sailing for the Red V this year, but Gutherson has been a shining light and could help lift them to an unlikely finals berth and look to better his second-placed finish from the 2020 edition of the Dally M.

Cameron Munster - 21 points

10 games, 14 try assists, 8 offloads, 97 run metres per game

After a disrupted 2024 campaign due to injury, Cameron Munster has hit the ground running this year and has been massive for the Storm.

The five-eighth leads the competition for try assists and has been electric in attack for Melbourne, who remain one of the premiership front-runners.

Munster will now head into the Origin series with plenty of confidence and if his form continues, could make a late run for the Dally M.

Jye Gray - 20 points

11 games, 4 tries, 3 try assists, 164 run metres per game

The pint-sized Rabbitohs fullback started the year in red-hot form and Jye Gray's shuffle down the leaderboard is likely due to the fact he has been moved out of his position.

Gray started the year in the No.1 jumper for the Bunnies, but since marquee man Latrell Mitchell has returned, he has been moved to the halves and to the bench.

Given he's unlikely to retain a permanent starting role, Gray is at long odds to make a run for the Dally M - but even being in the top 10 right now is an achievement few expected.

Ryan Papenhuyzen - 20 points

10 games, 12 tries, 39 goals, 9 linebreaks, 149 run metres per game

If there was any indication about how well Ryan Papenhuyzen is going this season, there were plenty of people pushing for him to play for the NSW Blues.

It's been a great sight for all footy fans watching Papenhuyzen in full flight once again after a horror run with injuries in recent years and Melbourne are the beneficiaries.

The fullback leads the competition for both tries and points and with Munster spending time away on Maroons duties in the next six weeks, Papenhuyzen could realistically start to snag a few more votes and make a late run for the Dally M.