Southern United is having another competitive season, the league is providing a quality product and that is being reciprocated with strong support.
Of course, it is easier to see things in a positive light when your team is doing well.
Southern has not quite reached the lofty heights of last year, when it spent time atop the table.
But with seven points from six games, it remains well in the mix to claim another playoff spot.
It has comfortably accounted for the bottom two teams and proven competitive against the top sides.
The last-minute loss against second-placed Auckland was unlucky and it is the only side to have played league-leading Canterbury United twice.
After years of struggling, it is good to see last season's rise was not a one-off.
It is not just the results that have impressed though.
The standard of football has risen and Southern plays an exciting style.
It has plenty of pace and will look to counterattack whenever it gets that chance.
Its skill level is high and it has the ability to threaten both with the long ball and dribbling through the defence.
The side lost a handful of key players from last year, although that has not had as large an impact as may have been expected.
Various players have stepped up around the field at different stages. Shontelle Smith is a threat to both score and create in the midfield, while new captain Mikaela Hunt has been classy on defence.
The likes of Lara Wall and Mikayla Gray have regularly challenged defences with their pace, while Renee Bacon has been threatening from fullback.
There are others too.
And maybe they need more recognition.
It was hard to believe it was Forrest Hill that had the New Zealand representatives when watching it play Dunedin Technical in the final of the Kate Sheppard Cup.
You can say a group of overachievers play well as a team all you want. But at some point you have to start giving the players credit for being good and at some point they need to stop being labelled overachievers.
One would think that is not far away.
The southern public seems to have noticed.
Crowds have been impressive at all three home games, another indicator of the progress both the team and league have made.
Another notable aspect is the way the games are played.
It is refreshing to watch games in which the players just get on with it.
The theatrics of diving and playing hurt, coupled with referee abuse have tarred the sport in recent times.
That becomes most prevalent when watching the game at the highest level in Europe.
Those are rare sights in the this league and is a far better watch because of it.
Southern has six games remaining and the next few will be crucial in keeping its chances of a playoff spot alive.
But halfway through, there has been plenty of like about the national women's league.
