SPORTS AWARDS
Rugby league star Benji Marshall has dedicated his National Maori Sports Awards to Mick Doherty who helped bring him up in Whakatane.
Marshall beat a world-class field of finalists to take the top prize, the Albie Pryor Memorial Maori Sportsperson of the Year, in Auckland on Saturday night. He also
won the senior men's prize.
Marshall, who plays for NRL side West Tigers, hadn't originally expected to be at the awards.
The Kiwi captain struggled for words when he was awarded the men's trophy during the annual ceremony, just hours after the man he regarded as his father had passed away.
"Dad, this one's for you," the 24-year-old said while raising the trophy after talking about how he was the product of his upbringing with the extended Marshall family and his foster father Mick Doherty.
Doherty, a hugely popular and well-known man in the Eastern Bay, will be farewelled tomorrow at St Joseph's Catholic Church and the Whakatane Marist Sports Club.
An obviously emotional Marshall said it was "overwhelming" winning the awards and he was "so proud to be a Maori" who has played for, and captained his country, while also having experienced the highs of being in a winning premier team and champion world cup side.
Marshall's Maori award wins reinforced a great year for rugby league with world champion Kiwis and Melbourne Storm coach Stephen Kearney winning the Coach of the Year honour.
Opotiki's outstanding wheelchair racer Michael Lack was also among the winners, honoured for his world championship and being named the Disabled Athlete of the Year.
Also honoured was former Murupara axeman Jason Wynyard - last year's supreme award winner - who picked up another world title during the last year. Wynyard's wife Karmyn was also honoured for he two world titles in sawing.
Te Tohu Taakaro o Aotearoa Charitable Trust hosted the prestigious black tie ceremony at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau.
Former basketball (before it was called netball) star Margaret Te Kahurangi (Meg) Matangi MBE was posthumously inducted into the Maori Sports Hall of Fame.
