VB Hard Earned: McInnes on top again

Cameron McInnes topped the VB Hard Earned chart for a second straight week but the performance of Clint Gutherson was perhaps the most impressive.

Playing lock, Dragons captain McInnes equalled his round 13 VB index score of 111 in a gritty win over the Eels. Knights forward Mitch Barnett (105) was the only other player to reach triple figures in round 14.

Parramatta fullback Gutherson was right up there with the forwards.

Gutherson, who set a new NRL record for most metres in a match with 369, had an index score of 77 thanks largely to his 34 runs.

Each player's VB Hard Earned index score is calculated by doubling their total runs and adding a point for every tackle, offload, decoy, support, charge down and tackle break.

Negative plays lower the index score. One point is taken off per missed tackle, while errors and penalties cost four points. Being sin-binned results in eight points being subtracted.

Putting into perspective just how prolific Gutherson was in attack, he made only two tackles (with two missed). 

Dragons centre Euan Aitken was the only other back in the Team of the Week to record an index score of 60.

Other notable Team of the Week efforts came from Wests Tigers prop Josh Aloiai (95), Broncos front-rower Payne Haas (95), Eels second-rower Ryan Matterson (82) and Titans halfback Jamal Fogarty (59).

On the overall VB Hard Earned leaderboard, Haas has extended his slender lead over Manly lock Jake Trbojevic. But with Haas suspended for the next two weeks, Trbojevic will almost certainly close the 11-point gap and build a lead that could prove insurmountable.

Warriors toiler Tohu Harris has jumped Panthers middle Isaah Yeo into third place. Behind them are Penrith's James Fisher-Harris, McInnes, Canberra's Josh Papalii and Newcastle's David Klemmer.