KEY POINTS:
1 Billy Slater's World Cup howler
Forget Wayne Bennett - wee Billy Slater was the Aussie who did the most to help the Kiwis land a historic World Cup triumph.
Billy's brain explosion is a never-to-be-forgotten moment which signalled the beginning of the end for Australia in the rugby league final at Brisbane. Thanks to his own cheekiness, Slater was suddenly faced with both Manu Vatuvei and the sideline.
He did what any sensible person - although not an Australian fullback - would do when the horizon is filled with a rampant Manu and biffed the ball over his head. On a good day, you can look like a genius with these sorts of moves. On a bad day, which is what it turned out to be for Billy, you look like a nutter.
Benji Marshall grabbed the ball, strolled over for a try, the Kiwis had a six point lead, and they never looked back. The gallant Kiwis deserved all the plaudits but as the single moment to remember it's hard to beat Billy's blind Hail Mary screamer, although Joel Monaghan challenged hard by tackling Lance Hohaia without the ball for a penalty try.
2 A golden Olympics, even if a couple of the highlights were etched in bronze
Bang, bang, bang, bang. Four Kiwi moments in China have lodged more firmly than the others in these memory cells:
Valerie Vili's opening shot-put throw which made it game, set and match almost before the event had begun;
Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell's fabulous finish in the double sculls for their second Olympic gold;
Nick Willis' perfectly judged run for bronze in the blue-ribbon 1500m final;
Mahe Drysdale's brave battle to overcome illness - just - and claim bronze in the single sculls.
3 The witt's end ... and it nearly was in more ways than one
This has to be the try of the year - the Warriors' sensational last-gasp score to beat the Storm, the red-hot NRL favourites, at Melbourne in the qualifying final.
Jerome Ropati set up the long-range move by shuffling around a lame Israel Folau tackle, Manu Vatuvei stormed up the wing, and Michael Witt finished it off although he almost finished himself off by holding the ball aloft before forcing it down. Warriors coach Ivan Cleary had a wee word with Witt about that fate-tempting move, and that word might have been goodbye if it had gone horribly wrong.
4 Better the devil you don't know - the All Blacks pip Munster
Munster recruit Doug Howlett looked to shut down the outside lane as his former Auckland and All Black wing teammate Joe Rokocoko took the inside route to score the try that saved All Black blushes in their only non-test match of the Grand Slam tour. Maybe Howlett had too much inside knowledge about Smokin' Joe. Classic All Black composure of yesteryear was re-lived as an understrength Munster were pipped at the post. Mils Muliaina provided
the perfect late pass under pressure, something that wasn't needed in the easy test victories against tryless international opponents on the tour.
5 19-0, and they were lucky to get nil
A scoreline for the ages as the All Blacks hammered the world champion South Africans in Cape Town. It was the first nil recorded at home by the Springboks against the All Blacks. In reality, the score should have been about 30-6 but Dan Carter and Percy Montgomery goal kicked as if they had bricks for boots.
Read it and weep, South Africa, because 19-0 looks fabulous in the history books.
6 O for oar-some: Drysdale v Waddell
The rowing mob are even more secretive than the rugby union, which is saying something. But try as they might, they couldn't keep hordes (by rowing standards) away from witnessing the battle for the Olympic single sculling spot. Some sports would have promoted this contest, but you can't have that sort of thing going in the serious business of Olympic qualification, old chap. Anyway, it was a fascinating three-race duel, won by Mahe Drysdale in a
canter in the final race at Karapiro after former Olympic champion Rob Waddell, making a comeback after grinding in the America's Cup, suffered a repeat of old heart problems. This contest was an all-too-rare curio from outside the traditional sporting lanes.
7 Paige Hareb's board gains
The 18-year-old Taranaki surfer qualified for next year's elite top-17 Dream Tour and big things are expected for her on the big waves.
New Zealand has waited so long for a surfing star that we've almost forgotten it's a sport. The experts reckon the rapid rise of the girl from Oakura this year means Kiwi surfing is about to turn a new page.
8 Danny Lee eats Tiger Woods
A bit of poetic licence with that line. The Rotorua golfer was the youngest winner of the US Amateur Championship, an accolade previously held by Tiger. The hardworking Lee also became the number one amateur in the world although not
for long, because he'll turn professional next year. The South Korea-born Lee, a star in the making, also pledged to remain listed as a Kiwi professional. Watch this space with great anticipation.
9 Scott Dixon's Indy quip
The brilliant Auckland racer won the Indy 500 for the first time and later put his life in order.
"Getting married, winning the 500, winning a championship in one year - not too many people can probably say they've done that," he reckoned.
Nope, there's certainly no one around here who can say they have done that, Scott.
10 Ross Taylor's scintillating century against England at Old Trafford
A glorious and unbeaten 154 from Taylor at almost run-a-ball pace decorated another dodgy year for our cricketers. Taylor was at his frustrating worst in the rest of the series but this innings was a belter and included five sixes including one to crack the 150 mark. New Zealand still lost the match and series but hey, minor point.
