Nick Passi's 100th in season opener
Premier captain Nick Passi will hit 100 games for MSP this Saturday in the opening club match against Wests, almost seven years to the day that he made his premier debut.
Nick was a 19-year-old fresh out of Wellington College when, along with another debutant Chris Slade, he played in the first match of the Swindale Shield round against Petone at Rugby League Park in 2004.
Last year he finished the season on 99 games, and there's still a buzz in putting on the scarlet jersey: "I'm one of the oldies now, but I'm still throughly enjoying it. I wouldn't want to be with any other club."
His 100 games is quite an achievement, given his injury count along the way. In 2009 during a stint in Spain, he broke his ankle and returned to play just the last two matches including the drawn Jubilee Cup final against Norths.
Nick gained seven caps for the Wellington Lions last year, which helped to make up for another memorable debut in 2009. Against Southland in his first rep game, he was stretchered off with concussion and spent the night in hospital.
The new coaching set-up at MSP this year, with new ideas and a new voice from Clayton McMillan, and continuity through John Duignan, is "refreshing", he says. He also appreciates what has been achieved under previous coaches, and he's grateful for the club's support in reaching the 100-game milestone.
On the team's 2011 prospects, he says MSP is like most clubs in having a young squad. "But while we're a pretty young side, there's a lot of talent." There's a good feeling in the side, he says, and the key will be melding that new talent with the core of experience.
Nick will lead his team out on to the field at Trentham Memorial Park in the Club Gala Day at 2pm.
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