Jeff McTainsh

And I always think when you...

hear the chat around the game and the health of the game and the state of the game.

When you know the people, um, you know, that get up early on a Saturday and take their kids to club footy and, you know, um, died in the wall, Taranaki supporters or Canterbury or Otago supporters, there is that passion there in New Zealand.

And there's some really, really good people working really hard to, to make the game what it is.

So, um, and around about why, what was it like being at the ballroom on that occasion?

It's just everything that our game is.

It's, it's passion.

It's the local people and it's the,

Well, that's a compliment.

Someone said that.

They said, how do you stay, how do you remain impartial?

And I think...

i don't think it's difficult like i think when you're calling a game you're calling a game would i um would i be lying if i said there weren't times after a game when i go okay man there's been a few of those there's definitely been a few of those moments um

But, yeah, like you, I mean, Otago and Canterbury last year in Christchurch, you know, and that Shield game was massive.

And then later in the year in the final, like part of you goes, damn.

But, you know, your job is to call the footy.

And I think for me at least, I just get excited about –

good play and, you know, big moments and, and, um, and witnessing some special rugby.

So that gets me up.

And yeah, at the end of the day, um, later that night, if you're a little bit miffed about it, you can be, but it's all part of the job.