Despite a hip injury which saw Payne briefly sidelined midway through the national provincial championship, the 25-year-old has ploughed through the season, which ends tomorrow with Northland's round 13 championship match against Counties Manukau.
Third equal with Otago, Northland blew any chance of making the top two with last Saturday's unlucky loss to North Harbour. However, on Wednesday, Northland headed onto Toll Stadium, fondly referred to as the "House of Payne" and celebrated their skipper's last game on home soil by ruffling the feathers of frontrunners Hawke's Bay Magpies, defeating them 43-34.
"It was a good way to finish the season at home with a win. Seeing as we were out of the top two, it was a bit more about having fun out there and putting on a good show for our loyal fans. I didn't think about it being my last game here. I think if we had struggled it would have been a different story," Payne said.
This season has been a mixed bag and Northland will be trying to finish on a high note against Counties, which will be Payne's 44th game for the outfit.
"I think they haven't realised their full potential. It was a few of the guys' first season playing at this level, who have not played ITM Cup before so it was all new for them. But I think if they keep a core group together I'm sure Northland will do well," he said.
Counties have also had a tumultuous season and taking on their backline will be a good challenge for Northland's imposing backs.
"They have a lot of special ball runners with the likes of Tim Nanai-Williams and Sherwin Stowers. We'll try and do much the same as in the Hawke's Bay game, and enjoy the rugby and throw the ball around and enjoy the bus trip home," Payne said.
While Payne is packing his thermals for Northern Ireland, he will have plenty to reminisce about.
"I really love it here. They have great players and bloody loyal fans who don't expect too much of you. It's fun, and I really enjoy the team environment."
Highlights for Payne include playing in Northland stalwart David Holwell's 100th match for the Taniwha.
"Also my first game for Northland in 2008 was a highlight. We played Waikato where I had just been playing for the past two years and won ... Wednesday night was special, too, winning the last game at home," Payne said.
Northland coach Adriaan Ferris said it was a shame a player of Payne's calibre was leaving. "He will be hard to replace, he has gone to the highest level and if had stayed there may have been the potential for him to play in the All Blacks, but we will never know that. Jared has been a fantastic servant to Northland rugby and losing him puts a huge dent in the side," Ferris said.
Delighted with how his team stood up to Hawkes Bay, Ferris has named a similar team to Wednesday's line up, and said he hoped Northland would go onto Grower's Stadium in Pukekohe, have some fun, and put in an effort his players and the fans could be proud of.
After a huge debut game on Wednesday, Warren Dunn gets the nod to start at centre, while Andrew Ritchie comes into the game day lineup as cover, starting on the bench.
Tomorrow's game between Northland and Counties Manukau kicks off at 4.35pm at Grower's Stadium, in Pukekohe.
Northland: 1 Justin Davies, 2 Tim Dow, 3 Matt Wallis, 4 Mark Burman, 5 Bryce Williams, 6 Dan Faleafa, 7 Dan Mason, 8 Cam Eyre, 9 Rhyan Caine, 10 Lachie Munro, 11 Bryce Heem, 12 Aaron Bancroft (Derek Carpenter), 13 Warren Dunn, 14 Simon Munro, 15 Jared Payne (c). Reserves: 16 Scott Vessey (Tevita Vaipulu), 17 Ross Wright, 18 Matt Harrison, 19 Andrew Ritchie, 20 Wayne Ngaluafe, 21 Ash Moeke, 22 Jack McPhee, 23 Aterea Davis.
Counties Manukau: 1 Peter Hale, 2 Mark Price, 3 Matt Talaese, 4 Ronald Raaymakers, 5 Jamie Chipman (c), 6 Adam Cathcart, 7 DJ Forbes, 8 Fritz Lee, 9 Augustine Pulu, 10 Baden Kerr, 11 Sherwin Stowers, 12 Bundee Aki, 13 Niva Ta'auso, 14 Ahsee Tuala, 15 Tim Nanai Williams. Reserves: 16 Grant Henson, 17 Maka Tatafu, 18 Chris McLaren, 19 Mark Selwyn, 20 David Bason, 21 James Semple, 22 Reynold Lee-Lo, 23 Ihipa Thompson.
