Andrew Johnsen: Looks back on the year in sport

Rene Ranger and his Northland teammates enjoyed a strong 2017 Mitre 10 Cup campaign. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

The world nowadays is inundated with award show upon award show, handing out plenty of silverware just in time for the festive season.

No one was screaming out for another one but to keep up with the trend, there's a felt obligation to do so.

The Jimmy Carr Award for Comeback of the Year

When Derren Witcombe returned to coach Northland for the 2017 season, there were questions as to what he could get out of a squad that managed a meagre one win in two seasons.

No one should have worried as Northland made it to the semifinals of the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership, falling to eventual champions Wellington in successive weeks.

The defensive backbone of the side was stronger than any Taniwha side in recent memory, allowing them to play an expansive attacking game.

The big question now is whether they can go one or two steps further in 2018, but for now let's continue to enjoy a much improved 2017.

The New Eminem Album Award for Biggest Disappointment of the Year

This could have gone to a number of suitors but there's no questioning this prestigious honour must go to the Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Conor McGregor "Fight of the Century".

Despite being regularly overhyped by two of the great trash talkers, fans got on board thinking McGregor could actually beat possibly the best pound for pound boxer in history.

What they got instead was four rounds of Mayweather letting McGregor land a few blows before ending a snorefest in the 10th round. Bravo!

The Manchester United Award for Team of the Year

Obviously it's the Black Ferns - who else could it be?

The rise and rise of the women's game in New Zealand can be directly attributed to the Black Ferns. Their dramatic Women's Rugby World Cup final win over England was the best 80 minutes of rugby action all year by a wide margin.

They will never quite get what they deserve in terms of pay, which is a crying shame.

The LaVar Ball Award for Best Quote of the Year

It has to go to the namesake of this award for his ludicrous assessment of his own basketballing talent while trying to articulate just how good his son Lonzo is.

"Back in my heyday, I would kill Michael Jordan one-on-one."

The Michael Jordan. The six-time NBA champion. Arguably the greatest of all time.

LaVar conveniently forgot he averaged two points at college, which is two more than he would have got on the GOAT (apologies to Nathan Lyon, the real GOAT).

But enough of the awards and looking back on a great year for Northland sport, particularly in a hosting capacity with successful stagings of British and Irish Lions Tour opener and the Black Caps' ODI against the West Indies.

Here's 10 questions that need to be answered in 2018:

1. Will Northland be able to continue its upwards trend in the Mitre 10 Cup despite losing the services of Solomon Alaimalo and Rene Ranger?
2. Is any international rugby really that important outside of the All Blacks fixture against England?
3. With Napier's McLean Park out of commission for the foreseeable future, will we see Kane Williamson and his band of merry men return to Cobham Oval for another year?
4. Will Joseph Parker actually fight Anthony Joshua or will Dave Higgins ruin it?
5. Is there scope for more women's international and provincial rugby?
6. Can (insert either Warriors, Blues or Kiwis here) perform consistently?
7. Or will Auckland continue to be a cesspool of sporting mediocrity?
8. Can Justin Marshall top his "me oh my I've enjoyed that one yes boy" quote in the commentary box?
9. Will Kiwis continue to embrace basketball?
10. How many sports columns will ponder hypothetical quandaries?

Hopefully 2018 will be even more successful than this year and we'll see some more talented youngsters make their mark on the national and international stage.

Have a Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year. Bring on 2018!