Who should win NZ rugby Player of the Year?

Dan Carter and Ma'a Nonu of the New Zealand All Blacks pose in the dressing room following the victory against Australia in the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final. Photo / Getty Images.

Try and separate this star All Black quartet and settle on the New Zealand rugby Player of the Year.

Dan Carter: Won World Rugby's player award however judges here are likely to be more discerning. His Super rugby work was mixed and he battled to get into rhythm in the early All Blacks tests. Picked up his game in the crucial late stages of the World Cup and even with a leg issue, was rock solid with 9 kick successes from 11 through the semifinal win against the Boks and victory against the Wallabies. His direction and coolness under fire was key to the side's impetus.

Dane Coles: Continued his rise up the ratings and had just one rest, against Namibia, in the All Blacks final 10 tests of a momentous season. Just as Keven Mealamu and Andrew Hore before him, Coles is the real deal as an international hooker where his set-piece work at scrum and lineout has caught up to his skillful ball-handling and athletic ability out on the open. Still only 28, Coles has put together almost 40 tests and it is rare if he does not play a prominent role.

Ma'a Nonu: Another of those departing senior All Blacks and his loss may be the most keenly felt after a year when he dominated from start to end. Nonu's growth has been continual from a smash and crash man a decade ago to an all bases covered athlete. Try and run down his channel at your physical peril while his work has taken much of the strain away from his five eighths partners at the Hurricanes and All Blacks.

Still has plenty of gas and sustained his fire throughout the World Cup to bat away his foes and leave SBW as the fire from the bench.

Ben Smith: Still rubbing your eyes over that sinbin in the RWC final as it seemed to be his only blemish this season. It's also hard to think there was so much angst and public debate about whether he should be fullback ahead of Israel who?

He is a man in perpetual motion, marshalling the defensive lines, defusing aerial assaults or causing all sorts of grief with his timed runs. He was one of the star foundations for the Highlanders as they claimed the Super rugby title then pushed on with that form for the All Blacks.

Has a reliable kicking game, covers and defends adroitly and still has the gas for the critical counter-attacks.