Two Otago women feature in the list of finalists for the New Zealand rugby awards next week.
It is a remarkable effort considering Joseph played just four games before being shut down with a season-ending injury.
Other finalists are BOP hooker Luka Connor and Northland lock Charmaine Smith.
Alhambra-Union stalwart Cathy Charles is nominated for volunteer of the year. She will contest the Charles Munro Trophy with Andrew Gemmell (Thames Valley) and Allen Grainger (Waikato).
John McGlashan College old boy George Bell is a finalist in the age-grade player of the year. Bell, the Canterbury hooker, will have to fend off exciting Wellington loose forward Peter Lakai and Hamilton Boys’ High School fullback Payton Spencer.
There will be special interest in who wins the categories featuring the world champion Black Ferns when the awards are handed out on December 8.
Ruahei Demant, Stacey Fluhler, Sarah Hirini and Theresa Fitzpatrick are nominated for Black Ferns player of the year.
Fluhler and Demant are also up for the Tom French Memorial Maori player of the year with All Black TJ Perenara.
All national teams and coaches are finalists for their respective categories, and it will be a shock if the Black Ferns do not win New Zealand team of the year and Wayne Smith does not win New Zealand coach of the year.
Hurricanes Poua lock Joanah Ngan-Woo, who made the lineout steal that clinched World Cup victory for the Black Ferns, is nominated for the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki player of the year award alongside Connor (Chiefs Manawa) and Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (Blues).
Hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho and loose forward Ardie Savea will be the favourites in the All Blacks player of the year category that includes Jordie Barrett and Sam Whitelock.
Savea, Blues first five Stephen Perofeta and Crusaders fullback Will Jordan contest the Super Rugby Pacific player of the year.
NPC players Lakai, Bryn Gatland (North Harbour) and Emoni Narawa (Bay of Plenty) are Duane Monkley Medal finalists.
Wellington, the Crusaders, South Canterbury and East Coast are men’s team of the year finalists, and Chiefs Manawa, Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay are in the women’s category.
Allan Bunting (Chiefs Manawa), Blair Cross (Hawke’s Bay) and Blair Baxter (Canterbury) are national women’s coach of the year nominees, and Nigel Walsh (South Canterbury), Scott Robertson (Crusaders) and Leo Crowley (Wellington) contest the men’s category.
Ian Kirkpatrick Medal nominees are Siu Kakala (South Canterbury), Sam Parkes (East Coast) and Semi Vodosese (Whanganui).
Sevens player of the year, referee of the year, the Steinlager Salver and the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial player of the year will also be awarded.
