Thanks to everyone who took the trouble to vote.

This is the 9th year of Mafia awards, click on the year to see the details.

Try of the Season

Equal 3rd - Toby Arnold v Canterbury. Phil Burleigh breaking the Canterbury line from within the Bay half and Arnold the finisher. 

2nd - Taniela Moa v Waikato. A try created by yet another burst from Arnold, returning a kick and slicing deep into the Waikato defence leaving Moa to dot it down. 

1st - Toby Arnold v Wellington. A bonus point try created by a miracle 60m run from Dan Perrin from close to his own line. Arnold on hand to finish it off. 

Next Bay All Black

3rd - Toby Arnold. Some support for Toby to be an All Black but he didn't even make a Super 15 squad so expect to see him back on the Sevens circuit this season.

2nd - Luke Braid. Had a superb season for the Blues with his brother injured. More progress may yet see him move into AB contention later in 2012 

1st - Sam Cane. Showed form when he made the Chiefs briefly in 2011 and continued it with the Bay. Helped NZ to win the Junior World Cup again and was nominated for IRB Junior Player of the Year. Has everything needed to be Richie McCaw's replacement in the future. 

Rookie of the Season

3rd - Steve Kefu. Ex-Wallaby Kefu was brought in to provide solidity and experience in the midfield and he did that.  

2nd - Leon Power. Power formed a solid partnership with Retallick and impressed enough for the Brumbies to offer him a contract.

1st - Chris Noakes. When Mike Delany left, we needed someone to step up and take over his role. Noakes did this with a booming boot out of hand and consistent goal-kicking.

Lifetime Award

2nd - Tanerau Latimer. With his All Blacks chances looking slimmer, we all hope that Lats will stick with the Bay to play at least 100 games and hopefully many more.

1st - Colin Bourke. Bourke announced he would not play another season for the Steamers but after 8 season and nearly 100 games, nobody will begrudge him a payday especially as he has never been given the chance he deserved at Super level.

Player of the Season

17th - Leon Power. After moving from Taranaki, Power was solid in his first season and replaced Luke Andrews as starting lock

16th - Dan Waenga. Have a feeling Waenga would have finished higher in the vote had been taken after 4 games where he starred with his incisive running. Later on, his erratic form led to Noakes being favoured over him. 

15th - Jamie Nutbrown. The 2006 Player of the Season returned and shared duties with Moa until Moa left for the World Cup. Not quite the force he was in his first spell at the Bay but improved during the season.
2008: 6
2007: 7
2006: 1

14th - Ben Smith. The eccentric Smith is always entertaining to watch and never lets the side down. His pretend assault with a flagstick was definitely a comedy high spot for the season.

13th - Steve Kefu. Former Wallaby Kefu was called in to play a single season and to bolster up the midfield. He was solid and his presence was missed when he was rotated.

12th - Josh Hohneck. It is always difficult to impress from the front row but Hohneck once again made strides and was always a willing worker with ball in hand.
2010: 13

11th - Dan Perrin. Despite sharing game time with John Pareanga, Perrin impressed enough to be one voter's player of the season. His legendary 60m run against Wellington will long be remembered.
2010: 12

10th - Taniela Moa. Moa had to leave half-way through the season to play for Tonga at the Rugby World Cup but he was on fire in the early Bay victories.
2010: 5

9th - Tanerau Latimer. The workaholic Latimer was always buried deep in the tackle areas, his commitment enabling the ball-stealers to do their work.
2010: 6
2009: 9
2008: 3
2007: 6
2006: 11

8th - Luke Braid. One of the consequences of rotation was that the excellent Braid was overshadowed by Sam Cane. Braid was a star for the Blues in Super Rugby and maybe much of his energy was already expended before the ITM Cup season.
2010: 8
2009: 3

7th - Phil Burleigh. Burleigh was excellent in 2011, his intelliegent kicking and elegant running once again overlooked for the Super Rugby squads. Burleigh is hopefully a key member of the Bay midfield for years to come.
2010: 9
2009: 5

6th - Chris Noakes. Noakes proved to be a fine recruit at 10 for the Bay, sharing duties with Dan Waenga early on but the definite first choice by season end. His goalkicking was reliable, his punting was massive and his running and passing game improved meaning that the Highlanders picked him up for 2012.

5th - Lelia Masaga. The Flash wasn't quite the electric force of 2010 but was always capable of breaking a game open with a spectacular burst.
2010: 2

4th - Culum Retallick. Retallick was massive once again in the forward pack, winning quality ball and a tireless worker with the ball. A surprise omission from the Chiefs, the Highlanders snapped him up. 
2010: 3
2009: 4
2008: 8

3rd - Sam Cane. A star on the rise who already looks groomed for All Black duties in the future. He has everything, a physical game and the ability to steal the ball in a flash. Against Southland he also showed a fair turn of pace.

2nd - Toby Arnold. This was Arnold's year to shine and it was hard to recall a single mistake he made at full-back. When the ball was kicked to him, he returned it with interest and was always on hand to finish off tries.
2010: 11
2009: 10
2007: 16

1st - Colin Bourke. Bourkey wins his 3rd player of the season in the last 4 seasons, once again the heart and soul of the Bay Steamers. His announcement that he was leaving overseas next year probably kept him out of Super Rugby but Bay fans will have good memories of his 8 season in Blue and Gold.
2010: 1
2009: 2
2008: 1
2007: 5
2006: 14
2005: 10
2004: 7