New Hurricanes discuss first training camp

CRAIG SIMCOX/Dominion Post

CAPITAL GAINS: From the top, Michael Paterson, Tyson Keats, James Broadhurst, Nick Crosswell and Andre Taylor have joined the Hurricanes.

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It's summer but the Hurricanes' pre-season has begun. Sam Worthington meets five new faces in the 2010 squad.

What is the best thing about living in Wellington?

James Broadhurst: "The people and the culture. The people around the Hurricanes are such good people and everyone I've met so far has been really welcoming and friendly. Just getting out in the city and seeing all the culture and the different people has been a real eye-opener."

Nick Crosswell: "I suppose just the change from home. A change in scenery and a change from what I'm used to, so that's quite refreshing. I enjoy being down here – a different environment, it's cool."

Tyson Keats: "To be fair it wouldn't be the weather, although the last few days have been awesome. I reckon the people and the busy town, there's always something to do. There's a lot of opportunities to keep yourself busy and entertained, it's just huge. And the people are really open and down to earth."

Michael Paterson: "I guess the people and the city. It's busy, something's always going on up here."

Andre Taylor: "The people. And it's just a different place from Palmy [Palmerston North], I guess."

What are you missing most from home?

Broadhurst: "I'm from Gisborne so probably the weather. The weather's probably the biggest thing because she's always blowing a gale here, and you don't see the sun that often."

Crosswell: "Not much. Ask me in a month's time and it might be a different story, but not yet."

Keats: "My partner's not up here yet so I'm missing her a little bit. And missing my hands-on work. I'm an exterior plasterer, I run a business down there so I'm missing being able to get out on the site and monitor the boys."

Paterson: "Probably the ability to go jet-boating. My boat's not here and I think the rivers are a lot nicer down in Canterbury for jet-boating. So I'll check that out when I get back next week."

Taylor: "I'm missing the people in Palmy, I guess, but I'm not missing Palmy itself."

Who is your new best friend on the team and why?

Broadhurst: "I'm living next door to the Canterbury boys so I've still got them and I'm living with Bryn Evans, who is obviously an old head and an All Black. He's been showing me around the city. And I'm living with Aaron Cruden and Johnny Leota as well, in an apartment in the city, so it's been good staying in the same area with a whole bunch of the boys."

Crosswell: "A few of the boys have been pretty good. Jeremy Thrush has been one of the better ones, pretty helpful to a lot of us new guys. Probably him or Dane Coles."

Keats: "Thrushy took us out for a few quiet beers on Saturday night so he sort of introduced us to the nightlife, which was quite good."

Paterson: "I've known Thrushy for a while. So I'm reacquainting with him. We seem to get on quite well."

Taylor: "I've known the boys from last year, from the wider training group, but probably Tyson Keats from Canterbury. He's just come up here and he's looking after me quite well."

What are your ambitions for the season?

Broadhurst: "Just to really make a name for myself year and try and get a bit of game time. There's some pretty talented guys ahead of me, like Jason Eaton, Bryn and Jeremy Thrush. I'm not just going to walk into anything here with two All Blacks and a seasoned veteran with the Hurricanes ahead of me. My main focus is to keep working and push those guys in front of me."

Crosswell: "Hopefully to get some game time. I'm in behind some pretty good players who have been around a while. So if I get some game time I'll be happy."

Keats: "I really want to win the whole thing. That's my overall goal. But for myself, to get the best out of myself and contribute to the team performance."

Paterson: "I just want to play footy and enjoy the experience and the new challenges that I'm going to face up here. Hopefully I'll bring some of the experience that I've had with Canterbury up here."

Taylor: "Focusing on having a good pre-season so I can get a starting position or at least bench time for the actual season. I've been told I'm here to cover wing and fullback so I'm hoping to get a bit of a run at both, which would be good. Me and Cory Jane get on pretty well, so the more I learn off him the better."

What are you doing for Christmas?

Broadhurst: "I'm going to be in Kaitaia for Christmas, with mum and dad, and then Gisborne for New Year's, I think."

Crosswell: "Just back home to Palmy and Feilding for Christmas. I'll catch up with family and friends and hopefully look to get away for a few days over that period, but nothing too big because we start back shortly after New Year."

Keats: "I go back home on the 20th, to Christchurch, and then my partner and I will be up in Kaikoura with my family, just fishing, surfing and training. It's a nice place there."

Paterson: "I'm back down to Christchurch for a family Christmas and my sister's coming back from Perth so I'll be catching up with her. The menu will just be the traditional Christmas turkey and lots of ham, some good old vegetables – usual Christmas menu – and a few beers probably as well."

Taylor: "I'll probably just head back to Palmy and just hang with family, I guess. I'm not going to go anywhere, I'll try and save a bit of money."

THE NEW KIDS IN TOWN

Name: James Broadhurst
From: Canterbury
Position: Lock
Age: 22
Physical: 2.03m, 112kg

Name: Nick Crosswell
From: Manawatu
Position: Flanker
Age: 23
Physical: 1.95m, 110kg

Name: Tyson Keats
From: Canterbury
Position: Halfback
Age: 28
Physical: 1.79m, 80kg

Name: Michael Paterson
From: Canterbury
Position: Lock/flanker
Age: 24
Physical: 1.95m, 106kg

Name: Andre Taylor
From: Manawatu
Position: Wing/fullback
Age: 21
Physical: 1.78m, 85kg