Stone makes smooth return to Turbos
It has been a smooth return to the Manawatu Turbos for experienced lock Fraser Stone.
The 32-year-old is set to pull on the green and white jersey and add to his 64 games for the province after three years watching on when the side takes on Hawke’s Bay at Central Energy Trust Arena at 4.35pm on Sunday.
He said he was loving being back in the Turbos environment.
‘‘It is awesome. The environment is really good and there is a really good vibe in the place. It is a really exciting time, I think.’’
Stone last played for the Turbos in 2015 but from there, turned his focus to his job as a diesel mechanic with PTS.
But he never stopped playing club rugby and was regularly among the best locks in the Mcdonald’s Senior One competition when playing for Kia Toa.
‘‘In all honesty, I have probably played the best club footy in the last few years. I have definitely felt better in the last few years, maybe it is not having the pressure of worrying about playing Turbos,’’ he said.
But this year he set his sights on getting back into green and white after a call from Turbos assistant coach Aaron Good.
‘‘Early on, Goody (Turbos assistant coach Aaron Good) messaged me and asked if I was interested in being involved in the team again in the wider training. It was good to have a bit of feedback from him early that they were keen to have me involved.’’
From there it was a case of juggling his job and family life with his training programme, but it has paid off.
‘‘It is a good environment [with the Turbos] and it is good to be back. It is a good lifestyle,’’ he said.
In a young squad, Stone brings some vital experience to the team, not to mention plenty of aggression in the second row.
‘‘We were looking at the date of births and there was Crossy (Nick Crosswell), myself, Taki (Sunao Takizawa) and Dre (Andre Taylor) born in the 80s and the rest were in the 90s and there is a couple in the 2000s which makes you feel pretty old.’’
Stone was part of the Championship winning team in 2014, but also the side that was relegated from the premiership in 2015. It is the former he is trying to recapture.
‘‘I had the highs and then the lows again the next year so maybe there’s a bit of unfinished business.’’
Now he is just taking each game as it comes and said he would be open to playing again in 2020.
‘‘I am only signed for one year, but I won’t say no again if my body is OK and I am playing alright again next year. But I will just take it as it comes.’’