Brendon O'Connor (right) and Mason Emerson should be among award winners on Friday night. PHOTO/Paul Taylor
WHO would want to be a judge for the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team's end-of-season awards?
They must be feeling the pressure ... almost as much as South African referee Craig Joubert did after that call in the final minute of the Wallabies Rugby World Cup quarterfinal victory against Scotland a week ago. The battle for the award winners in all five categories is shaping up to be as close as the Magpies' 26-25 win against Wellington in Friday night's thrilling ITM Cup Championship final at Napier's McLean Park.
One of the judges for the black-tie awards function to be held at the Hawke's Bay Racing Centre on Friday night, head coach Craig Philpott, was all hush about the contenders but happy to release details about the format. In each category three nominees will be announced before the winner and the Most Valuable Player award winner won't be a winner of one of the other four categories.
It will be a surprise if the absent captain Brendon O'Connor doesn't capture the Most Valuable Player award. He was the Magpies' top tryscorer this season with eight and player-of-the-match on at least three occasions.
If this is the case expect Hurricanes lock Mark Abbott to collect the Best Forward award. Abbott's 13 tackles and 16 carts against the Lions were typical of his consistent performances this season.
Another of O'Connor's possible rivals for the MVP award, first five-eighth Ihaia West, has to be the top candidate for the Best Back award. His pressure goalkicking in tricky conditions, six from six against the Lions and seven from seven in the semifinal against the Steamers, is just about sufficient.
As Philpott said after Friday night's final: "Ihaia had the chance to change history and he did with that conversion."
Centre Richard Buckman was consistent until he lost his battle with his injured knee and halfback Chris Eaton proved there is still plenty of mongrel left in the old dog. He made 13 tackles against the Lions and the former Hurricane could score another Super contract this week.
It will be a surprise if winger Mason Emerson doesn't collect the Rookie award. The only ITM Cup rookie to crack the starting XV for the final, Emerson, scored the crucial try which was similar to one which proved the turning point in the win against Southland in Invercargill.
Traditionally the Players Player award is the toughest for those outside the squad to predict. Injured players like Gareth Evans and Joseph Penitito, who have gone beyond the call of duty with off-field commitments while on the injured list, have to be considered. But if flanker Tony Lamborn misses out on the Best Forward award he could come into contention here and this would be the ideal form of consolation for a bloke who must be considered the unluckiest Magpie to miss out on a full Super Rugby contract.
While O'Connor leaves for the UK on Wednesday to begin a two-year contract with the Leicester Tigers, fellow loosie Tom Stanley will also be unavailable for the Magpies next year. Philpott said Stanley has been accepted for an MBA course at Oxford University and he may also be accepted for one at Cambridge University. Former All Black lock Dominic Bird is one of two high-profile Hawke's Bay age group products who could join All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick and halfback Brad Weber as Magpies next year. Philpott described Chiefs-bound Bird, who scored a try for Canterbury in Saturday night's 25-23 win against Auckland in the Premiership final, as a possibility.
Wellington winger and 2013 New Zealand Secondary Schools representative Sam McNicol is also Chiefs bound and the Magpies are one of his ITM Cup options.
SHANE'S PICKS
Best forward: Nominees, Brendon O'Connor, Mark Abbott, Tony Lamborn. Winner, Mark Abbott.
Best back: Nominees, Richard Buckman, Chris Eaton, Ihaia West. Winner, Ihaia West.
Rookie: Nominees, Mason Emerson, Sanaila Waqa, Jonah Lowe. Winner, Mason Emerson.
Players' player: Nominees, Gareth Evans, Tony Lamborn, Joseph Penitito. Winner, Tony Lamborn.
Most valuable player: Nominees, Mark Abbott, Brendon O'Connor, Ihaia West. Winner, Brendon O'Connor.
Magpies contracted for 2016 Super teams:
Highlanders: Richard Buckman, Ash Dixon, Brendon Edmonds, Gareth Evans, Ryan Tongia (WTG), Ricky Riccitelli (WTG).
Crusaders: Israel Dagg, Robbie Fruean.
Hurricanes: Mark Abbott, Geoff Cridge, Hugh Renton, Tony Lamborn (WTG).
Blues: Ihaia West.
Chiefs: Michael Allardice, Andrew Horrell, Brad Weber, Brodie Retallick.
Waratahs: Zac Guildford.
Possible selections this week: Chris Eaton, Ellery Wilson.
*WTG = Wider training group.