All Black Beauden Barrett hot award favourite at NZ rugby awards

Beauden Barrett is expected to make an impressive sweep of the NZ rugby awards, to be held in Auckland tonight. Photo / Photosport

Beauden Barrett should be a lock-in for the big prize and the Super Rugby player of the year gong at tonight's ASB Rugby Awards in Auckland.

Aside from two less than stellar outings against Australia in October (when sick) and Ireland in Chicago, Barrett was in peerless touch from May to November for both the Hurricanes and All Blacks.

His boot, razor-sharp attacking game and improved defence were features of this allround first five talent, who won the World Rugby player of the award last month to widespread acclaim.

It does not necessarily always follow that the World Rugby winner will take the New Zealand Rugby honour, as we saw with Ma'a Nonu (NZ) and Dan Carter (World Rugby) in 2015, but there will be a stewards' inquiry if Barrett does not take the Kelvin Tremain Memorial Trophy.

Barrett's form was central to the All Blacks' remarkably high quality rugby through the Rugby Championship, which will surely see them claim the team of the year for an unprecedented sixth straight season. They already have the World Rugby team of the year award in the bag. The Hurricanes and unbeaten Black Ferns are worthy finalists, but will bow to the men in black.

The night could be a bonanza for the Barrett family, with new Hurricanes signing Jordie Barrett, young brother of Beauden, in line for the age grade and Mitre 10 Cup player of the year. He operated at second five for the New Zealand Under 20s in June, but his best form came at fullback for the championship-winning Canterbury later in the season. Age grade finalist Shaun Stevenson was the outstanding NZ Under 20 back, but injury curtailed his Mitre 10 Cup.

Glen Jackson, the nation's No 1 whistler, will be hot favourite to win his fourth referee of the year honour in five seasons, partially due to the fact it was not a great year for our officials.

Michael Little, the North Harbour second five, gets an honourable mention as a Mitre 10 Cup player of the year finalist. It is mystifying how this talent missed a Super Rugby contract.

The brilliant teenager and All Blacks rookie Rieko Ioane is a finalist in no less than three categories - sevens, Mitre 10 Cup and Tom French Memorial Maori player of the year. The odds are short that he will take at least one of those.

Damian McKenzie and Ardie Savea are worthy Super Rugby nominees, but will bow to Barrett senior.

Steve Hansen, World Rugby coach of the year, will surely win his fifth successive New Zealand award, though fellow nominees Chris Boyd of the Hurricanes and Steve Jackson of North Harbour have won coveted silverware and lifted their sides appreciably in 2016.

Perhaps the tightest category is the women's player of the year. Evergreen Black Ferns hooker and skipper Fiao'o Fa'amausili, who won the award in 2011, showed her mental toughness and skill at the age of 36, but much of their play is driven by the prolific scoring halfback Kendra Cocksedge, the 2015 winner.

Fullback Selica Winiata makes up for lack of size with sharp running angles and pace from the back. She scored nine tries in five tests. Winiata is up for the popular SKY TV fans' try of the year, which she won in 2013. Her finish of an 80m Black Ferns' team try at Eden Park against Australia will take some beating.

*2016 ASB Rugby Awards nominations

New Zealand Rugby age grade player of the year:
Jordie Barrett (NZ U20s/Canterbury)
Luke Jacobson (NZ U20s/Waikato)
Shaun Stevenson (NZ U20s/Waikato)

Charles Monro rugby volunteer of the year:
Mark Andersen (Manawatu)
Gary Donovan (Auckland)
Mike Woollett (Wellington)

New Zealand Rugby referee of the year:
Glen Jackson (Bay of Plenty)
Richard Kelly (Taranaki)
Rebecca Mahoney (Wairarapa-Bush)

Mitre 10 Heartland Championship player of the year:
James Lash (Buller)
Willie Paia'aua (Horowhenua Kapiti)
Te Rangatira Waitokia (Wanganui)

Mitre 10 Cup player of the year:
Jordie Barrett (Canterbury)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland)
Michael Little (North Harbour)

Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens player of the year:
Sam Dickson (Canterbury)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland)
Tim Mikkelson (Waikato)

SKY TV fans' try of the year:
Dan Pryor (Highlanders)
Isaiah Punivai (Christ's College)
Selica Winiata (Black Ferns)

Black Ferns Sevens player of the year:
Sarah Goss (Manawatu)
Niall Williams (Auckland)
Portia Woodman (Counties Manukau)

Investec Super Rugby player of the year:
Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes)
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)

Tom French Memorial Maori player of the year:
Dane Coles (Ngati Porou)
Rieko Ioane (Ngapuhi/Te Whanau a Apanui))
TJ Perenara (Te Arawa)

New Zealand Rugby women's player of the year:
Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury)
Fiao'o Fa'amausili (Auckland)
Selica Winiata (Manawatu)

ASB rugby coach of the year:
Chris Boyd (Hurricanes)
Steve Hansen (All Blacks)
Steve Jackson (North Harbour)
Scott Robertson (Canterbury)

adidas team of the year:
All Blacks
Black Ferns
Hurricanes

Kelvin Tremain Memorial player of the year:
Beauden Barrett (All Blacks/Hurricanes)
Dane Coles (All Blacks/Hurricanes)
Sam Whitelock (All Blacks/Crusaders)