KEY POINTS:
Jason Costigan, Sky TV's voice of the Warriors, was casting his eye over something called a bush turkey when the Herald called this week. Seems the animal had wandered into his yard for a feed, a regular occurrence where Costigan lives.
As you might gather, the 37-year-old Costigan
does a serious amount of commuting to get to his job as Sky's lead commentator at Mt Smart Stadium. Not only is he an Aussie, but he resides in deepest, sunniest North Queensland, in the town of Seaforth - population 500.
Costigan, who was born and bred in nearby Mackay, is league through and through - although with a serious love of cricket on the side.
He works as a league journalist and commentator, has been a club president, the media manager for both the Bradford Bulls and Canterbury Bulldogs, and is currently the honorary marketing and media officer for a club with the enchanting name of the Whitsunday Brahmans.
But it is as the Warriors' caller that New Zealanders have come to know him.
Costigan's machine-gun Aussie twang and endless supply of catchphrases will be ringside again for tonight's big playoff game between the Warriors and Roosters.
With the sun beating down on little Seaforth, Costigan hardly needed to warm up for the match. But we gave him a wee workout with a few questions.
You don't call the away games, so where did you watch the Melbourne match?
I was having a soft drink in a pub in Bowen. Any commentator calling that game would have run the risk of cardiac arrest. If I'd been commentating and Michael Witt had fluffed it at the end, I would have gone off like a frog in a sock. My old mate [and former Warrior] Kevin Campion from Sarina thought it was the best game of football all year. No wonder people lined up from Auckland to the Bombay Hills for tickets this week.
How do you think the Roosters will approach it?
They try to bash teams early and put them to sleep. That Mark O'Meley is as tough as old boots. He played first grade at the age of 17. And he's got mates in that side ready to rock and roll. Nate Myles, David Shillington - they'll be relishing the prospect of bashing the Warriors forwards.
Warriors concerns?
As terrific as Lance Hohaia has been, the fullback is going to be peppered by Braith Anasta and Mitchell Pearce bombs. There will be an aerial bombardment of the back three. Discipline will come into it as well, don't worry about that. Look at the penalty given by Aidan Kirk last week. Those little brain explosions can change the momentum of the game at the flick of a finger.
Which club and players did you support as a kid?
Queensland kids of my generation had two teams - one each in Brisbane and Sydney. I loved Parramatta and it was no coincidence that they were at the peak of their powers then. And I was a mad keen supporter of Brisbane Souths. Bob McCarthy was the coach and they also had Wayne Bennett, and players like Mal Meninga, the late Peter Jackson, Gary Belcher, Bob Lindner. The two players I looked up to were Meninga and Wally Lewis.
What have been your best and worst calls during your career?
I'll leave that up to the critics, and there are plenty of them.
Calling style?
I call with the naked eye. I suspect I'm in the minority. I refer to the monitor as required. I started calling football in 1987 for a local TV station while I was still at school and I've never used binoculars. You might use binoculars to spot crocs in estuaries but that's as far as it goes.
Crocs in estuaries - and some people had you down as a city slicker.
I've lived in a few places but Seaforth is home now. My family is from Mackay - I'm a fifth-generation local. My great-great-grandfather was a copper in the old cattle town of Nebo. Most yards here have no fences, the neighbours will bring your bins in and out, and if a neighbour has caught an extra barramundi he might throw it your way.
Throw us a tip then. Warriors or Roosters?
I think the Warriors will do it. The short turnaround is an issue but after all the euphoria of Melbourne, I think the Chooks have ended up drawing the short straw.
What about the grand final?
I reckon it'll be the Storm and the Warriors in a rematch.
