It may have been rugby league hardman Mark Geyer's team but it was referee Shayne Hayne who stole the show in the men's over 40s touch football at the World Masters Games.

Geyer came off the field red faced and sucking in the big breaths after his side, MG's Maulers went down 8-3.

The 41-year-old former Penrith prop, who retired in 2000, said he didn't think he would be playing touch at his age when he first hung up the boots.

And he is still stunned he did.

"I didn't realise how fit you have to be to play this. I highly underestimated it," Geyer said.

"This is a game for ironmen not for ex-footy players.

"This game wasn't meant for 6 foot 5, 130kg players. You've got to be almost built like a jockey."

NRL grand final referee Hayne agreed Geyer may have not known what he was getting himself into when he put the team together.

"But he's got some useful ball skills and if someone can run off his hip, who knows he could be putting blocks through holes," he said.

Hayne, 42, was a natural on the paddock, using his experience in touch football to direct play and make quick runs from dummy half.

He is using the Games as fitness training for the Four Nations tournament, in which he will fly out for on Saturday.

So far the Games have had a 100-year-old shot putter and a 90-year-old 100m sprinter compete, whose performances have both inspired Geyer to stay active for as long as he can.

But the fact his three young daughters will get older and eventually discover boys, is added motivation.

"I've got to. When a knock on the door comes one day I want to make sure I'm big enough enough, fit enough and ugly enough to say 'sorry mate, bye.'"

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP