He may have won nearly everything going in two sports but for big Brad Thorn, winning on Saturday night was special.
Thorn, who has won rugby championships in both hemispheres, represented his country in two codes, and won a World Cup with the All Blacks, was as elated as anyone when the Highlanders broke their drought with a 25-22 win over the Sharks.
Thorn, playing his 100th Super rugby game, said it was a win to savour, after the 0-8 start to the season.
''You go through those eight games and all that is going on. But stuff like that gives you nights like tonight,'' he said.
''It was sort of similar to the World Cup, in that if we hadn't gone through 20-odd years of pain I do not know we would have celebrated as hard as we did.
''It is a round 11 game, an in-season game. So there is no real reason to remember it, really. But what has happened before and what happened tonight will mean I will remember it.''
Thorn (38) said coming back to play where he first started was special for him, and to play 100 games was massive.
''It surprised me, really, to come back to here. I lived in Mosgiel 33 years ago. I did not have any uncles or granddads that were All Blacks but, somehow, I went to another country and played another game and then, somehow, I'm here to play 100 games.
''I'm so proud of my time with the Broncos, so proud of my time with the Crusaders. But this is personal. This is my blood. This is coming back to where I picked up the ball and found my love for this game.''
Thorn said he was motivated by the support around the town and the loyal fans.
''I have driven down the streets in the last few weeks and I see the occasional guy or kid with a Highlanders jersey on and I felt like stopping and thanking them for hanging in there.
''For me, personally, I want them to be proud to put on a Highlanders jersey. I hope they enjoyed tonight. We showed some ticker for nine games, and this time we managed to get over the line. Right to the end, it was hard yards.''
He said leading the Highlanders out at the start and halftime was special.
''Maybe people think I am pretty staunch ... to go out first to acknowledge 100 games in front of my uncles and aunties, my wife and children, was pretty emotional for me.''
