Ireland rugby coach Joe Schmidt is one of the more notable names included in the list of 2018 Halberg Awards nominees.
Schmidt is in the running for Coach of the Year, after he led Ireland to a Grand Slam Six Nations title and a memorable win over the All Blacks in another standout season at the helm of rugby's newest global powerhouse.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen doens't feature among Schmidt's competition, which includes MMA mastermind Eugene Bareman, horse trainer extraordinaire Chris Waller and sevens rugby's Clark Laidlaw.
World champion canoeist Lisa Carrington is in the hunt for her third-straight Sportswoman of the Year award, alongside the likes of footballer Abby Erceg, pole vaulter Eliza McCartney and squash ace Joelle King.
Shot-putter Tom Walsh is also back in line for his second consecutive Sportsman of the Year award. He'll face stuff competition in All Blacks Brodie Retallick, Codie Taylor, and Richie Mo'unga, as well as tennis' Michael Venus and freeskier Nico Porteous.
The Black Ferns sevens are likely one of the frontrunners for Team of the Year, next to their male counterparts, the Black Sticks women, and squash's Joelle King and Amanda Landers-Murphy.
White Ferns spin princess Amelia Kerr headlines a strong field for Emerging Talent, next to Auckland Tuatara and Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Kyle Glogoski, and swimmer Lewis Clareburt.
Forty-three sporting codes are represented in the nominations, with each category to be reduced to a smaller group of finalists before the awards in February.
Newshub.
