Jay Pukepuke

It was that era.

It was, I always say it was when league was great.

Yeah, you could still shoulder charge.

Yeah.

It was really tough.

I was physical, but my mind wasn't in it at the time.

So, yeah, that was the downside of not going to school was I lost sort of my social cues and socializing with people I wasn't really too good at.

It's still a bit awkward around socialising.

I prefer to sort of drift into the background or I feel more comfortable hanging out with the rangatahi at work, you know, being a big kid.

But, yeah, you know, watching those guys from there, Odeo Manuel, Kaile Luruae, go and do great, you know, become legends of the game.

It was really inspiring and kind of made me, you know, regret again my decisions.

But...

Back then when I was watching it, I was like, oh, man, you know, I could have, should have, didn't.

But now I understand and well over it.

Well over it.

But it took a bit, you know.

I was very sour and bitter at myself for a long time.

It's hard to say.

I did have some contracts when I got out, actually, when I got out of my indoor experience.

Is that what we're calling it?