The unbridled joy was palpable minutes after the final whistle went in the Otago Spirit’s 37-12 Farah Palmer Cup Championship victory over the Northland Kauri at Tahuna Park yesterday.
"I honestly wasn’t letting up until that final whistle, because you just never know," Hollows said.
"I’m so happy — I don’t think I could take another loss."
The stalwart hooker has been through the rollercoaster of emotions with her Spirit clan. She was there when they won the Farah Palmer Cup Championship in 2019, but the bitter disappointment of losing the 2022 final has long remained.
Winning the Championship for a second time, and being elevated to the top-tier Premiership, is priceless and Hollows put their unbeaten season down to their bond.
"I think it really shows that culture is so important.
"You can have all the stars, but if you don’t bond as a team . . .
"I think this year we played for each other, not for individuals. We’re just like a family now. It’s unreal."
It has been a special year for the Spirit jersey, celebrating 25 years of the moniker earlier this month.
Past players presented the current crop with their jerseys during the reunion and the Otago under-18 side presented them before the final.
"It just kind of shows the elders, the youngers and then us. We’re all in it together and we’re trying to lift Otago, lift this province and women’s rugby and make it known that we’re here."
They have certainly done that.
Big celebrations were expected to go into the wee hours of this morning, but once the dust settles, will Hollows be back for her 12th season in blue and gold?
"Yep — I have to now we’re in the Premiership," she laughed.
