Nicho Hynes is on the verge of putting himself in the company of the NRL's greatest-ever buys by joining Johnathan Thurston in a rare group of Dally M winners.
Hynes looms as one of the few genuine contenders for this year's medal, three points behind leader Ben Hunt when votes went behind closed doors in round 12.
James Tedesco, Isaah Yeo and Dylan Edwards shape as the other likely options, with the rest of the chasing pack having missed too many games since then.
Hynes, howeve,r is beginning to look the most likely.
The 26-year-old playmaker has missed just one match since round 12, with the Sharks holding an 8-1 win-loss record with Hynes in the team.
Hynes would likely have picked up points in several of those games, having a role in at least one try in each of the Sharks' wins in the stretch while scoring a double last week against Manly.
Hunt would likely have polled well in each of the Dragons' wins, however his team have lost five matches in that same time.
If Hynes was to win the Dally M, he would join Todd Carney (2010), Thurston (2005), Gary Freeman (1992) and Steve Morris (1979) as the only players to have won the medal in their first season at a club.
Hynes' path would also be remarkably similar to Thurston's, going from a bench player at a rival club to winning the Dally M in his first full season as a starting half.
Not that the former Melbourne utility has given it much thought.
"That's up to the people voting I guess," Hynes said.
"I just want to play my best footy for the Sharks. You can't get these accolades, like getting selected in the Origin squad or Dally M points without that.
"My main focus is trying (for Cronulla) to come second to get a home semi and slowly build towards that first final.
"You don't play footy for those sort of medals, but it would be nice."
Cronulla were given another boost on Thursday, told they would be able to play a home final at PointsBet Stadium if they finish in second spot.
To do that they must beat Canterbury and Newcastle in their next two matches and hope North Queensland fall over against South Sydney or Penrith.
Regardless of whether they land the home final, teammates believe Hynes has done enough to claim the game's biggest individual prize.
"He's been exceptional from the day he came through the doors," co-captain Wade Graham said.
"From the moment he walked in in preseason, he was confident.
"He got here a bit earlier than expected because he wanted to hit the ground running.
"He was signed as as a chief playmaker and that's the way he acted as soon as he walked through the door and started training and took control of the team."
