Dally M 2021: Morris, Saifiti and Papenhuyzen all on the board after round one

Brendan Bradford

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Dally M 2021: Morris, Saifiti and Papenhuyzen all on the board after round one image

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Brett Morris and Kodi Nikorima put in electric performances to bag three Dally M points in round one victories, while Daniel Saifiti and Junior Paulo led from the front for Newcastle and Parramatta. 

It's early days yet, but the stars stood up in round one. 

Read on for the full list of Dally M votes from the opening eight games of the 2021 NRL season. 

MELBOURNE STORM VS SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS 

3 points - Ryan Papenhuyzen
2 points - Christian Welch
1 point - Latrell Mitchell 

Judge: Andrew Johns

Ryan Papenhuyzen is a freak. He scored 18 points including two tries, ran for 175 metres and made a linebreak to snap up all three points in the opening game of the round. Christian Welch led the way up front, while Latrell Mitchell had some nice touches as Souths worked their way back into the match in the second half. 


NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS VS CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS 

3 points - Daniel Saifiti
2 points - David Klemmer
1 point - Jayden Brailey

Judge: Scott Sattler 

On a wet and rainy evening in Newcastle, it was always going to come down to the big boys up front. But even Daniel Saifiti would've been surprised by his own output, scoring twice and making two linebreaks in a 32-16 win. David Klemmer ran for a whopping 217 metres, while Jayden Brailey made 50 tackles without missing one. 


BRISBANE BRONCOS VS PARRAMATTA EELS 

3 points - Junior Paulo
2 points - Reed Mahoney 
1 point - Anthony Milford 

Judge: Darren Lockyer 

Junior Paulo ran for 138 metres off 14 runs and scored a try in Parra's 24-16 comeback win at Suncorp Stadium. Reed Mahoney was dangerous out of dummy half and made a game high 55 tackles. Anthony Milford was instrumental in getting the Broncos out to a 16-0 lead, his first half chip for Xavier Coates was sublime. Eels forward Isaiah Papali'i could feel hard done by after running for 200m off the bench and making a massive impact after coming on. 


NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS VS GOLD COAST TITANS 

3 points - Kodi Nikorima 
2 points - Addin Fonua-Blake 
1 point - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 

Judge: James Smith

Kodi Nikorima scored 10 points including the match-winning try 12 minutes from fulltime in the Warriors' 19-6 win over the Titans. While the Warriors half snapped up the three points, new recruit Addin Fonua-Blake earned all the headlines, running for 202 metres in his first game at his new club. Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck got his last season in the NRL off to a flying start from fullback with 174 run metres and three tackle busts. 


SYDNEY ROOSTERS VS MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 

3 points - Brett Morris 
2 points - Lindsay Collins
1 points - James Tedesco 

Judge: Billy Moore

Brett Morris and James Tedesco both scored hattricks in the Roosters' 46-4 demolition of Manly, and they were both awarded accordingly by Dally M judge Billy Moore. Lindsay Collins put in a big shift, playing 63 minutes, running for 164 metres and making 38 tackles. 


PENRITH PANTHERS VS NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 

3 points - James Fisher-Harris
2 points - Nathan Cleary 
1 point - Dylan Edwards 

Judge: Gary Belcher 

Dylan Edwards was at his dangerous best on Saturday night as the Panthers held the Cowboys scoreless, while Nathan Cleary picked up where he left off last season. James Fisher-Harris ran for 219 metres, which is 101 metres further than North Queensland's top runner, Kyle Feldt. 

Jarome Luai and Brian To'o should've been awarded some points for this though. 


 

CANBERRA RAIDERS VS WESTS TIGERS 

3 points - Hudson Young 
2 points - George Williams 
1 point - Jordan Rapana 

Judge: Greg Alexander 

Hudson Young was everywhere, running for 117 metres and making 35 tackles as the Raiders beat the hapless Tigers 30-12 in Canberra. George Williams chimed in with 10 points off the boot and Jordan Rapana crossed for two tries. 


ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS VS CRONULLA SHARKS

3 points - Will Kennedy 
2 points - Matt Moylan 
1 point - Jack Bird 

Judge: Luke Lewis 

Will Kennedy crossed for two tries and was dangerous every time he had the ball in his hands in Cronulla's 32-18 victory over the Dragons. Moylan impressed in his first game since last August, while Jack Bird - on debut for the Red V against his old club - was the solitary Dragon to earn a Dally M point. 


DALLY M LEADERBOARD 2021 

PLAYER CLUB POINTS
Ryan Papenhuyzen Storm 3
Daniel Saifiti Knights 3
Junior Paulo Eels 3
Kodi Nikorima Warriors 3
Brett Morris Roosters 3
James Fisher-Harris Panthers 3
Hudson Young Raiders 3
Will Kennedy Sharks 3
Christian Welch Storm 2
David Klemmer Knights 2
Reed Mahoney Eels 2
Addin Fonua-Blake Warriors 2
Lindsay Collins Roosters 2
Nathan Cleary Panthers 2
George Williams  Raiders 2
Matt Moylan  Sharks  2
Latrell Mitchell Rabbitohs 1
Jayden Brailey Knights 1
Anthony Milford Broncos 1
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck Warriors 1
James Tedesco Roosters 1
Dylan Edwards Panthers 1
Jordan Rapana Raiders 1
Jack Bird Dragons 1

 

 

Brendan Bradford