All Blacks and Chiefs centre Quinn Tupaea has continued his surge, taking a clear lead in the Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year voting after round 8.
Tupaea polled maximum votes as the Chiefs demolished the NSW Waratahs in Hamilton to take a five-point lead over Western Force and Wallabies fly-half Ben Donaldson.
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Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor also received the full allotment of nine votes after his four-try effort in their win over the Fijian Drua.
The captains and head coaches of both teams nominate their top three players from the opposing team each week, allocating three votes, two votes, and one vote, respectively.
On top of this, the Player of the Year voting process has been bolstered for the upcoming season, with a panel of respected rugby media identities from across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji assembled to contribute votes on each game.
Player of the Year votes from each round will be announced on the competition website and social media channels each Tuesday, until the voting goes behind closed doors following Round 10.
Here is how they voted:
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
