Aaron Smith column
Aaron Smith explains why he still loves the NPC and his beloved Manawatu Turbos.
He might not play much, if any, NPC rugby in 2021, but the All Blacks halfback explains why he still loves the competition and his Manawatu Turbos.
Ienjoyed getting back to the NPC with the Manawatu Turbos in 2020 after nine years between drinks.
It was funny getting on the back of the bus again after that long away. Just getting the green and white jersey on again and playing at home – shame there were only a hundred-odd people allowed in, but my dad was among them – was great. we had a tough away game against northland too. I gave it everything I could and it was great to reconnect with the boys.
The physicality and speed wasn’t what I am used to, but the skill level and the innovation were still there. It was good seeing the game a different way and coached a different way with fresh voices and information. because I wasn’t there for long I could just be a player again. I didn’t have to lead attack or defence or be a captain of a group. I could just train hard, get the info and play. you could just be a normal guy for two weeks. That was very cool and a nice step back.
what was also cool for me was that there was a nice mix of Palmie and Feilding Ag old boys, a few Super rugby guys, Liam Mitchell and brayden Iose, who are very smart. you could tell they had been in the Super environment, so we leaned on them a lot. In the backs, we had some young guys like Adam boult and Josiah Maraku who were going well. The opportunities are there. I just tried to lead by example with my work ethic.
I had a lot of flashbacks to my early years from 2008-11. Dave rennie was the coach, I played with Aaron Cruden and we had some good sides. Michael Fitzgerald was there, Johnny Leota, nick Crosswell – local legends – and then young guys like Andre Taylor and Kurt baker. Some of those stalwarts taught me a lot.
That 2011 season was a big one for me. I had a taste of Super rugby and came back to the Turbos where we made the Championship final in Dave’s last year. Manawatu rugby was in a strong position.
going further back, my earliest memory was getting a ‘most improved player’ trophy from Christian Cullen in 1996 when I was seven. I was a mad Hurricanes fan back then.
A guy named brad Carr played 350 games for my Feilding yellows club and a lot of NPC division two rugby for Manawatu. I used to be ballboy at the Showgrounds too. If you ballboyed all the games you got to keep the green and white tracksuits!
The Turbos were back in the top echelon in 2005 when I was at Feilding Ag and that’s when that pathway opened up again. Dave came up to me after a First XV game and asked if I was keen to join the academy. Jason O’halloran had just become the academy manager. I was doing 6am gym sessions, then hairdressing, to pay the bills. you weren’t playing for money but the love of it. Playing for the Turbos was the biggest dream at the time.
I keep an eye on the Turbos off the box and my dad goes to all the Feilding yellows games, so I certainly keep big tabs on them. He tells me the results. I was very proud to see them win their third title in a row last month. I lost a Hankins Shield final to Aaron Cruden in 2007. My one chance of glory, but one day… you never know!
we have banter in the All blacks when our provinces have match-ups. I love it.
I see Jason emery and brett Cameron are signed to the Turbos in 2021, and a few others, so I’m excited to see what they can do in the bunnings NPC – hopefully cracking the Championship semifinals if we can keep our best 23 fit.
‘The Turbos were back in the top echelon in 2005 when I was at Feilding Ag and that’s when that pathway opened up again.’