It's hard to look past an All Black for that award if they contributed strongly throughout the Super rugby series and then continued that form as the team retained the Webb Ellis Cup.
You have to go back to 2007 to find the player of the year, Daniel Braid, who did not play for the All Blacks that season.
This time my vote would go to Nonu for his unrelenting impact throughout a year when he starred for the Huricanes and then continued that into the international calendar.
It was no coincidence to my eyes that Nonu was the only absentee from the quartet of player of the year nominees when the All Blacks were beaten for the only time this year against the Wallabies in Sydney.
At the World Cup, Nonu joined the select group of All Blacks who have played 100 tests and celebrated with a try against Tonga before the team set their sights on the knockout section of the tournament.
If the midfield back misses the top gong, my next preference would be fullback Ben Smith whose exemplary standards throughout helped push the Highlanders to an inaugural Super rugby crown before he usurped Israel Dagg as the senior test fullback.
While it might take the judges time to unravel their player preference, it shouldn't take long to confirm the All Blacks as team of the year alongside coach of the year Steve Hansen. That's the way these evenings go in a World Cup cycle.
Other All Blacks like new wing Nehe Milner-Skudder and halfback Aaron Smith will probably duel for the Tom French Memorial Maori rugby player of the year ahead of Chiefs midfield back and new All Black Charlie Ngatai.
Smith is also nominated for Super rugby player of the year alongside teammate Lima Sopoaga, who became an All Black and busy Hurricanes lock James Broadhurst who also pulled on the All Black kit for the first time.
Hansen led the All Blacks to their primary goal this year but it was also a momentous season for Jamie Joseph and his Highlanders while Scott Robertson guided Canterbury to a seventh ITM Cup and NZ to the world under 20 crown.
The Black Ferns dominated the Super Series in Canada, the sevens team qualified for Rio 2016 and secured their third successive women's series title.
Black Ferns halfback Kendra Cocksedge who was WR women's player of the year is nominated alongside long serving captain Fiao'o Fa'amausili and team-mate Linda Itunu.
2015 Steinlager Rugby Awards nominations
New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year
Alex Fidow (Wellington)
Charlie Gamble (Canterbury)
Akira Ioane (Auckland)
Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year
Tania Karaitiana and Vio Ugone (Stokes Valley RFC - Wellington)
Robert Neil (Pakuranga RFC - Auckland)
Andrew Reilly (Feilding Junior Rugby Committee - Manawatu)
New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year
Jessica Beard (Counties Manukau)
Glen Jackson (Bay of Plenty)
Richard Kelly (Taranaki Rugby)
Pink Batts Heartland Championship Player of the Year
Eric Duff (Mid Canterbury)
Lindsay Horrocks (Wanganui)
Stephen Perofeta (Wanganui)
New Zealand Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year
Sarah Goss (Manawatu)
Tyla Nathan-Wong (Auckland)
Portia Woodman (Auckland)
Richard Crawshaw Memorial Sevens Player of the Year
Scott Curry (Bay of Plenty)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland)
Joe Webber (Waikato)
ITM Cup Player of the Year
George Moala (Auckland)
Ardie Savea (Wellington)
Dominic Bird (Canterbury)
Investec Super Rugby Player of the Year
James Broadhurst (Hurricanes)
Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders)
Tom French Memorial Maori Player of the Year
Charlie Ngatai (Ngāti Porou/Te Whanau-ā-Apanui) (Taranaki)
Nehe Milner-Skudder (Ngāti Porou) (Manawatu)
Aaron Smith (Ngāti Kahungunu) (Manawatu)
New Zealand Rugby Women's Player of the Year
Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury)
Fiao'o Fa'amausili (Auckland)
Linda Itunu (Auckland)
New Zealand Rugby Coach of the Year
Steve Hansen (All Blacks)
Jamie Joseph (Highlanders)
Scott Robertson (Canterbury, New Zealand Under 20)
adidas Team of the Year
All Blacks
Highlanders
New Zealand Under 20
Kelvin R Tremain Player of the Year
Dan Carter (Canterbury)
Dane Coles (Wellington)
Ma'a Nonu (Wellington)
Ben Smith (Otago)
