Otago secured the Ranfurly Shield for the summer after beating North Harbour 41-26 in Dunedin on Saturday.
But the good folk from the North Otago Rugby Football Union did not wait until the final whistle before registering interest.
"I got a text from North Otago about 10 minutes after the final whistle last week, and we hadn’t even played [Saturday’s game]. They were that excited," he said.
North Otago do not have a mortgage on that enthusiasm.
"Everyone's just as excited. The Shield still carries that little bit of magic and still carries a lot of history, and especially in Otago.
Judging by the crowd that showed up to watch Otago defend it, there is still plenty of life in the trophy.
The Shield defence drew close to 6000 fans. It was easily Otago’s biggest crowd this season and there will be more action at the turnstiles.
Otago still have one round-robin game remaining — against Auckland at Auckland Grammar School on Saturday — but have secured a home venue for the quarterfinals regardless of the outcome.
That is in the future, though.
In the meantime, Kinley said he can start planning the next Ranfurly Shield road trip.
"To have the Shield locked away for the summer is just a massive opportunity now to get out more in the community.
"And I know that we did a lot in the last week, as we needed to, but now we can actually put a really good plan together and just celebrate it really, really well over the next six, seven months.
"But it was just fantastic to see so many people come along [on Saturday].
"I know the boys have been working hard on playing a style of rugby that is attractive and exciting."
It will have topped up the balance sheet, and a home quarterfinal will be a nice boost as well, but Kinley said seeing the public get behind the team was more rewarding.
"Having the Shield is great and having a big crowd is absolutely fantastic. But, for me, it's more about getting the public behind the team.
"Finances are the finances and look, don't get me wrong, it's great to have a lot of people along.
"But having people support the team just lifts them to another level. The crowd is an extra player for the team."
Saturday’s win briefly put Otago — who have not won the NPC title since 1998 — at the top of the table.
Canterbury, however, regained top spot with a rare 19-19 draw with Northland in Whangarei yesterday. Canterbury fullback Andrew Knewstubb had a chance to win it in the final minute of the golden-point period, but his penalty goal attempt was poor.
Canterbury nabbed two competition points, taking them to 37, one clear of Otago.
In other games yesterday, Bay of Plenty thumped Waikato 41-5, and Counties-Manukau beat Manawatu 49-24. Taranaki beat Wellington 39-20 on Saturday.
Games in the final round of the regular season (home teams first) are North Harbour v Southland, Auckland v Otago, Wellington v Bay of Plenty, Waikato v Northland, Manawatu v Hawke’s Bay, Tasman v Counties-Manukau, and Canterbury v Taranaki.
