Floggings of the team from west of Cape Kidnappers were as common as a Winston Peters denial.
Players like Timu, Randell and Kronfeld all came off the Hawkes Bay production line and ended up in North Dunedin.
But how the winds have shifted.
Promising Hawkes Bay players such as winger Zac Guildford and fullback Israel Dagg no longer venture south for academic pursuits.
They stay at home, get paid to play, and make a good living from it.
It is called professional rugby, and tonight it gives Hawkes Bay one of its best chances of notching its first win at Carisbrook since 1976.
In fact, the player drift has gone the other way somewhat, with three former Otago players - although two were brought up in Hawkes Bay - lining up for the Magpies tonight.
Otago coach Steve Martin has reacted to the messy win over Counties-Manukau last week by promoting halfback Sean Romans, hooker Peter Mirrielees and left wing Ben Smith into the starting line-up.
All Black Adam Thomson also gets his first hit-out this season for Otago, and his energy and ability to break the line should give Otago more ammunition.
A good start is imperative for Otago this week, along with the ability to be patient, and picking the right option when it gets into try-scoring positions.
For Otago captain Craig Newby, last week was just one of those games in which the harder everyone tried the worse it became.
"Really, a blind church group could have done better.
"Before the game everyone was feeling good but we just dropped to their level."
But the side had won, had worked hard on its skills this week, and was looking for more accuracy in its game, he said.
Martin is fully aware of the calibre of the opposition his side faces tonight, and says Otago will have to improve its finishing from last week.
"I think it was just a case of 'white-line fever'.
Guys were trying too hard, pushing the pass, rushing things, and it was inevitably not working out," Martin said.
Martin said Hawkes Bay was a dangerous side.
After a disappointing start to the season, with a heavy loss to Wellington, it looked to be hitting its straps with a big win over Tasman last week.
"They've got a few guys who are looking forward to coming back to Dunedin, and they obviously are running back into form."
Otago still has two players with Hawkes Bay connections, with fullback Glen Horton and winger Karne Hesketh coming from the Bay.
Hawkes Bay captain and halfback Danny Lee, first five-eighth Mathew Berquist, and centre Jason Shoemark, have all played for Otago.
Hawkes Bay coach Peter Russell said his team was still growing and was in the second difficult year, after reaching the semifinals last year.
"Many of the players just thought they simply had to turn up to win but it's not like that in this competition.
"If you are not quite there for the game you are ripe for the plucking."
He was impressed with the win over Tasman, when things had come together, and wanted to continue that tonight.
Hesketh was carrying a slight groin strain earlier in the week, but trained well yesterday, and was cleared to play.
Lucky Mulipola will start in the reserves.
