Fresh faces, fresh hunger: Crusaders ready to unleash in pre-season

There’s been a spark around the Crusaders this week that only comes at the start of a new season.

You can feel it in the way the boys talk about one another, the way the young players bounce around training, and the way the leaders carry themselves as they head into the first pre‑season clash in Timaru.  

It’s a fresh year, but the hunger is familiar. 

Head Coach Rob Penney captures that feeling when he talks about what he wants to see from the first run. 

“We just want to see the building cohesion and our game unfolding,” he says. 

“There are some exciting elements to what we’ve been working on, so this pre-season game is about the evolvement of our game and rewarding the boys who’ve put in such a hard effort during pre-season.”  

He knows we won’t show everything, but he’s clear this group isn’t interested in hiding. 

“At some point you’ve got to start doing it against opposition. There aren’t many secrets in this game.” 

That belief in letting players express themselves is something Ethan Blackadder leans into straight away.  

Blackadder will captain the first half, and there’s a real excitement in the way he talks about the opportunity.  

“Fresh faces, a new year – we’ve had a really good pre-season,” he says.  

“This game is all about opportunity and the boys are fizzing.”  

He’s “pumped” to see the younger Crusaders step onto this stage for the first time.  

“We’ve got a number of guys around that 20 to 22 age mark who haven’t had a crack at this level. It’s all about them getting a shot and us pressure testing our systems.” 

That theme of backing teammates flows straight into the second half too, where the captaincy baton passes to Rivez Reihana. 

“I haven’t really thought about it too much this week,” he says.  

“Being a first five, you’re kind of expected to lead, so I’ve just taken it as a normal week, but I’m really looking forward to the opportunity.” 

Reihana talks about the mindset shift from last year with real honesty.  

“We were pretty hungry last year, and it still feels the same. We’re not defending a title; we’re looking to win another one.” 

Friday 30 January at Timaru’s Fraser Park is the first chance to see fresh faces combine with returning leaders.  

It’s the moment months of work finally meets real opposition. And it’s the start of a journey this group is genuinely excited about. 

With an opportunity in front of us, the Crusaders are ready to unleash on 2026.