Were the Halberg Awards winners the right choices?

Richie McCaw was named sportsman of the year. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

Ricki Herbert and his World Cup All Whites have scooped the coach of the year, team of the year and overall awards at the Halberg Awards, while All Blacks captain Richie McCaw took sportsman of the year and Valerie Adams sportswoman of the year.

To win the Halberg Award, the All Whites headed off fellow team finalists - the All Blacks, the Kiwis, the Silver Ferns and the rowing pair of Eric Murray and Hamish Bond.

For McCaw, twice a previous finalist, it was third time lucky as he won the sportsman of the year category ahead of All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen, Kiwis game breaker and captain Benji Marshall and X Games world champion Jossi Wells.

Adams won the title for a fifth year from fellow Commonwealth Games competitors Nikki Hamblin (athletics), Alison Shanks (cycling), Joelle King (squash) and Casey Williams (netball).

What did you think of the choices? Give your views: