Crusaders coach Scott Robertson. Photo / Photosport
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson. Photo / Photosport
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has been snubbed for the second time in 24 hours after missing out on a Halberg Award nomination.
17 coaches from sports as varied as mixed martial arts and para cycling have been nominated for the Coach of the Year Award, along with outgoing All Blackscoach Steve Hansen, but there's no sign of Robertson who led his side to its third Super Rugby title in a row.
That string of title-winning seasons has only occurred once before in the 24-year history of Super Rugby - also by the Crusaders between 1998 and 2000 - while this is the first time a single coach has pulled off the feat.
However, even if Robertson were to be nominated, he'd have stiff competition for the overall award with Lisa Carrington's coach Gordon Walker bidding to win for a record four times in a row.
Other notable nominees in the category include Valerie Adams , who coaches her para shot-putter sister Lisa, Black Caps coach Gary Stead and Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua.
Emerging athlete or world class champion?
Alpine skier Alice Robinson. Photo / Photosport
Another notable snub amongst the Halberg nominations is for 18-year-old skier Alice Robinson.
While Robinson is nominated under the Emerging Talent category, an argument can be made that she deserves to be amongst the nominees for Sportswoman of the Year after a history-making season.
Robinson became the first New Zealand skier to win a World Cup event since Claudia Riegler in 1997 after beating reigning world champion Mikaela Shiffrin in the giant slalom in Sölden, Austria in October.
The victory also meant she became the youngest woman from any nation to win the Sölden World Cup race.
That victory was preceded by a World Cup final silver medal behind Shiffrin in March and came alongside the world junior giant slalom title in February.
Robinson is currently ranked fifth in the world in the giant slalom event.
The Halberg Award nominees
Sportswoman of the Year Abby Erceg (football) Avalon Biddle (motorcycling) Courtney Duncan (motorcycling) Danielle McKenzie (canoe racing) Katrina Rore (netball) Kelly Brazier (rugby) Laura Langman (netball) Lisa Carrington (canoe racing) Luuka Jones (canoe slalom) Michelle Montague (mixed martial arts) Phillis Meti (golf) Ruby Tui (rugby) Sarah Hirini (rugby) Tyla Nathan-Wong (rugby) Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (snowboarding)
Sportsman of the Year Campbell Stewart (cycling) Israel Adesanya (mixed martial arts) Kane Williamson (cricket) Kieran Read (rugby) Lewis Clareburt (swimming) Michael Venus (tennis) Nico Porteous (freeskiing) Paul Coll (squash) Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (rugby league) Scott McLaughlin (motorsport) Tom Sexton (cycling) Tom Walsh (athletics)
Para athlete/team of the year Cameron Leslie (Para swimming and wheelchair rugby) Eltje Malzbender (Para cycling) Emma Foy and Hannah van Kampen (Para cycling) Lisa Adams (Para athletics) Sophie Pascoe (Para swimming) Wheel Blacks (wheelchair rugby)
Team of the Year BLACKCAPS (cricket) Black Ferns Sevens (sevens rugby) Kiwi Ferns (rugby league) Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler (rowing) Zoe McBride and Jackie Kiddle (rowing) Silver Ferns (netball) Olivia Loe and Brooke Donoghue (rowing) Women's Eight (rowing) Women's Team Pursuit - Holly Edmondston, Bryony Botha, Kirstie James, Rushlee Buchanan and Michaela Drummond (cycling)
Coach of the Year Allan Bunting (rugby) Cory Sweeney (rugby) Dale Stevenson (athletics) Dame Valerie Adams (athletics) Damian Wiseman (Para cycling) Eugene Bareman (mixed martial arts) Gary Hay (rowing) Gary Hollywood (swimming) Gary Stead (cricket) Gordon Walker (canoe racing) Michael Bland (Para cycling) Noeline Taurua (netball) Roly Crichton (Para swimming) Ross Machejefski (cycling) Shane McLeod (hockey) Simon Mayne (Para swimming) Steve Hansen (rugby)
