Fire still burns for passionate Crossy
The passion for the green and white jersey remains strong for the last standing foundation member of the Manawatu Turbos, Nick Crosswell.
The 32-year-old loose forward/ lock now sits within one season of being the 11th member of the exclusive 100-match club for Manawatu and just the second during the Turbos era.
His last match for the Turbos against Bay of Plenty was his 92nd.
Crosswell was initially named to take the field against Hawke’s Bay last week, but he withdrew to be there for the birth of his son Tiaki James Crosswell – born the day of the game.
The new addition to the family is sure to keep him, wife Hanna and daughter Maia busy.
“We are bloody excited,” he said.
But a busier personal life does not mean the experienced performer, who has played Super Rugby for the Hurricanes, Highlanders and Chiefs, has any plans to hang up the boots.
“I would like to get a bit more rugby under my belt. I am only 32 so I feel like I have a few years left. I will just take stock after this season and see where I am at. But I would love to go again. I still feel the same about this team as I did in 2006 – it is a privilege.”
He admitted the carrot of 100 games for the Manawatu played on his mind.
“At the end of the day, the drive has still got to be there. I would never come back just to get 100 games. I would come back to contribute to a team in a campaign where we want to win – those would be drivers for me in coming back.”
Crosswell has played all but two seasons for the Turbos since his debut in 2006. That came during his stint in Wales in 2015 and 2016.
He returned to Manawatu last year, claiming back his No 6 jersey, only for a neck injury to rule him out for the season after week four.
That injury took until the back end of the club season for him to be cleared to get back out on the field.
He said it hampered his preparations for this year.
“I would have liked more rugby earlier in the year so maybe I came into the season a little under cooked and for a big part of it I have been playing catch up.”
But regardless, he has been a vital part of the forward pack this year.
He said it was special getting the call up to captain the team once again against Tasman when Antonio Kiri Kiri was being rested.
“It is an absolute privilege. Twon (Antonio Kiri Kiri) has done a fabulous job, but he needed a rest. To still get that opportunity to captain your home province is really special to me. It was not the result we wanted, but that aside it is something that I can be proud of.”
Despite results not going their way for much of the season, Crosswell said the mood in camp has been positive and there was a determination to finish the season on a high note against Southland.