You forget how much Crusaders fans love the Crusaders until you watch them play live in Christchurch. That place was absolutely jumping last night

Crusaders fans may not turn up every week - but my goodness, when they do - they enhance the home advantage significantly.

I said yesterday the man in the no. 10 jersey could be the most influential player on the par. I was right about the jersey, I just had the wrong team.

Rivez Reihana was superb for the Crusaders last night. On the biggest night of his life, he played the best game of his life, and outshone his opposite to be named man of the match.

The media were granted access to the Crusaders' changing sheds after the game and as you can imagine, it was pretty raucous in there. The tunes were pumping, the drinks were flowing and the celebrations were loud and getting louder.

After I came out, the first person I saw was Damian McKenzie.

He was just sitting outside the Chiefs shed, which is right next door to the Crusaders one - listening to the celebrations and staring into the distance.

Losing one Super Final must be difficult - losing three in a row is another thing entirely. This one will sting those players for some time yet.

I was right in front of the Crusaders' coaches box and when the final whistle went, there were scenes of high jubilation. Dan Perrin was banging on the glass, James Marshall and Brad Mooar were high-fiving - and standing at the back was Rob Penney.

This much-maligned coach from last year, the man who came under the most pressure after 2024 - more pressure, probably, than any Crusaders coach in the nearly 30 years of the competition - saw hundreds of fans in the south stand turned around to look up at that box and gave him a standing ovation.

He looked down, grinned, gave the crowd a round of applause in return - and just mouthed: "Thank you"

His redemption was complete. Now, he might not see it that way - in fact I know he won't.

He's taken every opportunity to say he had nothing to prove, nothing to redeem - but the players told the story.

David Havili and Will Jordan both said afterwards they did it for their coach

Last year hurt this proud team very deeply, and their very proud coach probably most of all.

Every time I looked down onto the celebrations happening on the field afterwards, my eyes were drawn back to Rob Penney

Quietly, but happily enjoying the moment with his family, his team, and its fans.

The storylines of last night might have been the continuation of the Crusaders' unbeaten finals record, the farewell to Addington, the coming of age of Rivez Reihana, the continued brilliance of Will Jordan, the unbelievable engine of Fletcher Newell, the tirelessness of Ethan Blackadder or the continued leadership and mana of Codie Taylor and David Havili.

But the story of last night for me was Rob Penney. He won't call it redemption, but that's exactly what it was.

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