Club chairman Dave Thompson presented Mayerhofler with a farewell gift on the field during the interval, with the 7,406 crowd to a man standing in appreciation for the former All Black, who made 92 appearances for the club during his five year stay.

Known to all as ‘Bubs’, a tearful Mayerhofler told the club’s fans: “You’ve all been wonderful, and I take so many happy memories home with me to New Zealand.”