Inside the Crusaders mindset as 2026 begins
Players spoke openly this week about what drives them, what connects them and what this new season means for them as people as much as players.
Between Taha Kemara’s quiet resilience and Will Jordan’s calm sense of purpose, there’s a feeling building inside our group that goes deeper than fresh jerseys or a new pre-season.
It’s about finding our “why” again and doing it together.
Taha has been working his way back from injury with a mindset that’s as honest as it is determined. He talked about the long road from injury and how important it was to leave nothing to chance.
“I told myself at the start I didn’t want to leave any stone unturned. My confidence now is 100% in my knee, and I’m not thinking about it, which is the main thing about being back,” he says.
For him, coming back isn’t just a physical return. It’s about backing himself again and stepping into who he’s becoming as a playmaker.
He opened up about the healthy rivalry for the 10 jersey too.
He and Rivez push each other every day, and the respect between them is clear.
“The battle for the 10 jersey has been going for a couple of years now, but we don’t shy away from it. We want what’s best for each other,” he says.
That’s the Crusaders way: compete hard, lift your mate, grow together.
He talked about their growth under James O’Connor, describing him as a mentor they’ll carry with them throughout their careers.
There’s also a deep sense of connection in how Taha views his place in the team.
He mentioned the people who reached out to him during his ACL recovery – Braydon Ennor, Sevu Reece, Dallas McLeod – all of them are players who’ve walked the same road and wanted to help him through it. Those moments matter, especially to a young first-five stepping into bigger leadership every year.
Will Jordan sees that growth too.
When he spoke, you could feel how much pride he has in the young boys coming through and how strongly he believes in the group.
“Taha was outstanding early last year, and Rivez came in and led us to a title. I love how they compete but also help each other grow,” he says.
For Will, their story isn’t about who starts round one. It’s about how two young men are shaping each other and helping drive our standards.
He also talked about what motivates him and the wider group this season. Last year carried a certain edge for us – a point to prove. This year feels different.
“It’s about finding what’s going to motivate us to stay at the top and bringing our individual whys together,” he says.
It’s a reminder that legacy isn’t carried by pressure. It’s carried by purpose.
Both Taha and Will touched on the small adjustments this season will bring, whether it’s rule tweaks, new backfield dynamics or the way the game naturally shifts from free-flowing February footy to the tactical squeeze of winter.
“You’ve just got to go up hungry to get the ball and stay confident,” Will says, talking about high-ball contests.
And of course, there’s excitement around familiar faces returning.
Will laughed about Leicester Fainga’anuku being the same guy as he was when he was last in the Crusaders environment, just with “more Euros and some flash clothes”.
He knows exactly what Leicester brings and what it’ll feel like to feed him ball in open space again. There’s comfort in having someone like that back in our environment.
We take that comfort into our second pre-season match against the Blues today – the fact that many familiar faces will be back out on the park in red and black together.
