With club footy somewhat diminished under the shadow of Origin over the past six weeks, this time of year presents opportunities for punters to secure juicy odds whilst bookies' attention has been focused elsewhere.
We've taken a look at the latest NRL Odds for the individual honours of Dally M and top try scorer, to steer you into some good value as we enter the home stretch of the season.
Dally M Medal Odds
Kalyn Ponga $4, Gareth Widdop $6, James Maloney $6
The undoubted stars of the 2018 season, Ponga, Widdop and Maloney would all be deserved Dally M medalists.
Even though Ponga is favourite, Newcastle's poor run of late suggests he won't score as highly as he would have in a winning team.
A hamstring injury in Round 16 against the Bulldogs will sideline the young star for at least two weeks, with no guarantee that he'll be back and firing the moment he returns from this set-back. A player who relies on explosive pace and quick movement, Knights trainers will be overly cautious in ensuring his hamstring is 100% before getting him back onto the field.
After considering these facts its surely well worth the risk to lay Ponga for the Dally M.
Maloney and Widdop shape as the only realistic challengers.
While Maloney has performed better over past seasons, he will have to follow Origin duties at one of the remaining games which gives Widdop a chance to get one up on him.
If Widdop can recapture some of his early-season form with the Dragons, he looks the best value to claim the coveted prize and earn the first Dally M medal for the Dragons.
Top Try Scorer Odds
Josh Addo-Carr $3.25, David Fusitua $3.50, Robert Jennings $4, Valentine Holmes $5.50
After 16 rounds, 'the Fus' David Fusitua sits on top of the leading try-scorer tree with 15 tries, one ahead of Melbourne Storm and NSW flyer Josh Addo-Carr and three ahead of Robert Jennings and Valentine Holmes, who have 12 tries apiece.
Fusitua appears to be over the odds here, with bookies not factoring in the Warrior's favourable run home which inlcudes home games against the Knights, Raiders and Bulldogs.
The Storm aren't scoring as freely as they were this time last year, and Fusitua will have an extra game under his belt given Addo-Carr will sit out Melbourne's clash against the Dragons this weekend due to Origin duties.
Fusitua will also benefit from the services of Shaun Johnson, who recently returned from injury and will be determined to steer the Warriors into a top four finish on the ladder.
Both Jennings and Holmes are capable of having a prolific end to the season in the try-scoring department, but catching the other two seems an unlikely feat.