The Super Rugby season has been run and won, and it's a big congratulations to the Highlanders who triumphed 21-14 over the Hurricanes in Saturday's final in Wellington.

But after such a memorable season, both on and off the field, we feel it's appropriate to hand out a few other awards to give those outside of the Otago region something to smile about. ESPN columnist Greg Growden delivers the honours below.

Team of the year: The Highlanders

Coach of the year: Highlanders Jamie Joseph

Try of the year: Beauden Barrett's five-pointer against the Stormers; though Ma'a Nonu, TJ Perenara, Brad Shields and Cory Jane can also lay claim to this cracker. It's worth another watch.

Newspaper headline of the year: 'Joseph the amazing technical dream coach.' New Zealand Herald. July 5.

Biggest duds: The Western Force. Boring, predictable and their negative tactics are a blight on the game. You really must admire the patience of the Force fans to endure this rubbish. Maybe they will eventually twig it is not good enough… especially as they stopped winning at home in 2015.

Biggest improvers: The Highlanders, the Rebels and the Lions.

Biggest flopperoos: The Queensland Reds

The greatest survivor: Queensland Reds coach Richard Graham. How he survived the season is beyond belief. And it became even crazier when the misguided Queensland Rugby Union beckoned in the Reds godfather Knuckles Connolly to provide some guidance. Some guidance. They just kept getting belted. And the mail continues on that Graham will be there again at the Reds next season. Woop. Woop. Woop.

Richard Graham is surely on the thinnest of ice © Getty Images

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Most encouraging off-field move: Super Rugby teams become more particular over concussed players. Having a doctor on the sideline checking players is a great improvement.

Most costly move by a player: Ben Alexander and Scott Fardy, who run a pub in Canberra, agreeing to provide free drinks to patrons if either score a try for the Brumbies. Then suddenly Alexander started scoring tries- hitting the publicans' hip pocket hard.

Strange half-time get-together: Michael Cheika paying a visit to South African referee Jaco Peyper during the half-time break in the Waratahs-Blues Sydney match. How, why and who was behind the visit is open to conjecture months after the meeting.

Best away trip for a Super Rugby team: Heard some Waratahs had a wow of a time at a country wedding during the season. Some wild and crazy behaviour, including wacky 'Smokey and the Bandit" car stunts that irritated local landowners, while others were simply blown away on the dance floor. No wonder the Waratahs deflated at finals time.

Most confused referee: Rohan Hoffman. Seems to be a nice bloke, but made some howling decisions. There was even communication breakdowns - the most notable being between himself and the Sharks, when he mistook a query from them over whether it was half-time or not when playing the Waratahs.

Best retreat: Greg Peters, who actively supported the introduction of Argentina and Japan to the Super Rugby ranks, then left SANZAR CEO position to take charge of the Pumas. Some Super Rugby teams, especially in Australia, won't miss him.

Best application to fight Floyd Mayweather: Laurie Weeks. The Rebels front-rower will have to come down a few weight divisions, but there was just enough in the flurry of blows he unloaded on Jannie du Plessis to suggest he deserves a shot at the title.

Most impressive Australian player: David Pocock. Came back after a long injury and was immediately on song.

David Pocock has a superb season for the Brumbies © Getty Images

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And making the most impression: David Pocock. During one game, referee Angus Gardner asked Pocock: "Please don't yell at me."

Least impressive Australian player (considering all the buildup and wraps): Karmichael Hunt. Has played quite a number of games now for the Reds - has not made any impact.

Biggest waste of a player: Kyle Godwin at the Force - who has been forced to become a defensive tool rather than a midfield attacking threat - and Joe Tomane and Henry Speight at the Brumbies - good attacking finishers wasted while the Brumbies get all obsessive about the rolling maul. At finals time, Tomane reminded all of his capabilities.

Best line from a departing Super Rugby coach: Naka Drotske when leaving the Cheetahs quoted the famous line of Dr Danie Craven, who once said: "The more I see of people the more I love my dog." "I could never really understand the true meaning of this until I started coaching," Drotske said. "My immediate advice to a new coach would therefore be 'get a dog.'"

Best psyche up line: New Cheetahs coach Franco Smith on how he motivates his players. "It's easy. I just cocked a 9mm pistol in the change room.' Knowing the Cheetahs home base of Bloemfontein, aka OK Corral, we have absolutely no idea whether he is joking or not.

Saddest loss during Super Rugby season: Jerry Collins. A special character.

Jerry Collins was remembered during the semi-finals © Getty Images

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Most interesting Australian coach: Tony McGahan. Has revived the Rebels.

Smartest signing: Mike Harris gave good value for the Rebels after leaving the Reds. Gave them stability, and was able to flick between several important positions.

Most bleedingly obvious law to fix up: It only took the International Rugby Board, or World Rugby or whatever they what to be called to realise that the rolling maul was a blight on the game. Although weeks on end, teams, in particular the Brumbies, had been relying on the rolling maul to score tries, it took until the Super Rugby finals for authorities to say they should have a good look at it. It took a long time for the authorities to realize that many of the rolling mauls were illegal, with attacking players joining in from an offside position, it was not a true competition for the ball and basically a blatant obstruction. Good to see someone at the IRB, or World Rugby, or whatever it's called, to finally wake out of their stupor.

Most worrying trend: Cheerleaders masquerading as commentators - in various forms of the media.