All Black midfielder takes POTY lead as gap widens

All Blacks and Chiefs midfielder Quinn Tupaea has burst into the Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year lead after his performance against the Waratahs in Hamilton.

The midfielder crossed for a double in their convincing victory over Dan McKellar’s side, continuing his consistent form and his place towards the top of the POTY leaderboard.

Wallabies No.10 and Force playmaker Ben Donaldson impressed once again, this time taking home four votes against the Reds, taking him to 31 for the season and a second-place spot behind Tupaea.

High-flying Wallabies winger Max Jorgensen claimed five points from the Saturday evening matchup against the Chiefs, keeping him within touching distance of the top two, with 28 votes.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Franco Molina both secured six points in their matchup in Brisbane, while Mac Grealey won four votes.

Australia U20 international and Waratahs outside back Sid Harvey still leads the Rookie of the Year voting table, with 13 votes so far this season.

Here is how the voting went in round eight:

Crusaders v Fijian Drua

9 – Codie Taylor (CRU)

5 – Leicester Fainga’anuku (CRU)

4 – Elia Canakaivata (FJI), Isaak Fines-Leleiwasa (FJI), Manasa Mataele (FJI)

2 – Will Jordan (CRU)

1 – Virimi Vakatava (FJI), Antonio Shalfoon (CRU)

Chiefs v NSW Waratahs

9 – Quinn Tupaea (CHI)

5 – Max Jorgensen (NSW), Samipeni Finau (CHI)

4 – Pete Samu (NSW)

3 – Samisoni Take’aho (CHI)

2 – Charlie Gamble (NSW)

1 – Clem Halaholo (NSW), Xavier Roe (CHI)

Queensland Reds v Western Force

6 – Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (QLD), Franco Molina (FOR)

5 – Mac Grealy (FOR)

4 – Ben Donaldson (FOR)

3 – Hunter Paisami (QLD)

2 – Aidan Ross (QLD), Darby Lancaster (FOR)

1 – Fraser McReight (QLD), Brandon Paenga-Amosa (FOR)

Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year Voting after Round Eight

36 – Quinn Tupaea (CHI)

31 – Ben Donaldson (FOR)

28 – Max Jorgensen (NSW)

25 – Will Jordan (CRU)

22 – Timoci Tavatavanawai (HIG), Caleb Tangitau (HIG)

20 – Miracle Faiilagi (MOA), Charlie Cale (ACT), Ryan Lonergan (ACT)

19 – Caleb Clarke (BLU

18 – Fehi Fineanganofo (HUR)

17 – Cam Roigard (HUR), Jordie Barrett (HUR), Declan Meredith (ACT)

16 – Vaiolini Ekuasi (FOR)

15 – Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa (MOA), Elia Canakaivata (FJI), Dalton Papali’i (BLU)

Rookie Of The Year

13 – Sid Harvey (NSW)

6 – Joel Lam (MOA), Nic Shearer (HIG)

5 – Codemeru Vai (BLU)

4 – Lucas Casey (HIG)

3 – Dominic Ropeti (MOA), Iosefo Namoce (FJI)

2 – Treyvon Pritchard (QLD), Kadin Pritchard (ACT), Johnny Lee (CRU), Torian Barnes (BLU), Clem Halaholo (NSW)

1 – Malachi Wrampling (BLU)