The NRL Lurker's Dally M votes: Cameron Smith is making a late charge for back-to-back medals

With the NRL taking Dally M votes behind closed doors after round 12, The Lurker has picked up the slack to hand out the 3-2-1 for every game, every week. His couch imprint is already formidable. Check out the final week of official voting here.

It took Cameron Smith five rounds to poll his first vote in 2018 but never, ever rule out the reigning champion.

With James Maloney tied up on Origin duty and Kalyn Ponga licking his wounds with a hamstring injury, retired Queenslander Smith is using his extra days in clubland to mow down his competitors.

Don't be selfish mate, you already have two medals to brag about. Let the kids have their fun.

Much of the conversation has centred around the Dragons, Rabbitohs and Panthers, but flying under the radar and only surfacing in recent weeks is the Smith-led Storm.

After notching up a man of the match performance before voting went behind closed doors in Round 12, I've handed the Melbourne skipper eight votes in five weeks - and I don't even like the bloke very much.

In that period Maloney has picked up three points, and young Ponga four, but the gap has closed in to five votes between them and the in-form hooker.

If they blow this lead it would be a bigger disappointment than the 2018 Johnathan Thurston. Yep, I went there.

MORE: Here's the full Dally M leaderboard after i've taken the reins

Anywho, here's my complete breakdown of all eight games this weekend.

THE LURKER'S DALLY M POINTS FOR ROUND 17

Melbourne Storm v St George Illawarra Dragons

Penrith Panthers v New Zealand Warriors

Sydney Roosters v Melbourne Storm

Penrith Panthers v Manly Sea Eagles