dᵻspˈaɪt ðˈɪs, hiː wʌz nˌɑːt ðə fˈɜːst tʃˈɔɪs stˈɑːɹɾɪŋ hˈæfbæk fɚðə hˈaɪləndɚz ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd sˈɪks, wɪð sˈaʊθlənd hˈæfbæk dʒˈɪmi kˈaʊən ˈɔfən bˌiːɪŋ pɹɪfˈɜːd.
Despite this, he was not the first choice starting halfback for the Highlanders in 2006, with Southland halfback Jimmy Cowan often being preferred.