Despite props making up a quarter of the annual Group 10 most influential player list, including 2018’s top spot belonging to in-form Hawks bookend Ethan McKellar, when put to vote halves have flourished, running a quinella.

Almost 500 votes were polled in the week after the long weekend’s release of the top 20, with Mudgee’s five-eighth Jack Beasley earning 76 votes to edge Panthers captain-coach, halfback Doug Hewitt, who was just five votes adrift.

Together, the pair polled over a quarter of this year’s votes, with over 30 per cent of the votes cast.

Hewitt’s Panthers teammate Blake Lawson was well supported, too, making the podium with just under 10 per cent of the votes while Chanse Burgess was the best of the big men, running fourth with 6.4 per cent of the votes.

Lithgow Workies utility Cody Godden wrapped up a top five spot.

Original No.1, McKellar polled five per cent of the votes while his captain-coach, Willie Heta was just ahead to be the best ranked of a two blues side leading the premiership at the half-way mark of 2018.

While, up roar after Jackson Brien was overlooked for a spot in the top 20 has resulted in a huge amount of ‘other’ votes.

Of the nearly nine per cent votes that were cast in that column, Oberon’s star centre Jackson Brien has received the Lions share to edge the likes of teammate and ex-NRL prop Josh Starling, Bears captain-coach Tim Mortimer, St Pat’s star Zac Merritt and Orange CYMS half Mick Sullivan.