Kaimai crusade fires McQuoid

When Grant McQuoid first played for Bay of Plenty in 2002, he had much to prove.
Unwanted by Waikato, the former Matamata College schoolboy star was seeking a new start, trying to overcome injuries and looking to show he was a classier footballer than the one mucked around by the Chiefs in 2001.
When he departed four seasons later, McQuoid had done exactly that. With 41 appearances, he'd helped the Steamers win the Ranfurly Shield, cemented himself as a nationally ranked midfielder and broken back into Super rugby.
After three years in Japan, McQuoid is back and seriously enthused. He's trim and fit, and seasons of controlling the Yamaha backline have honed his leadership skills.
He didn't expect to walk back into a Steamers jersey, but now that he has, and with his 31st birthday falling today, he'd like no better present than to beat Waikato in Hamilton tomorrow when he lines up at second-five.
"It's almost like another debut in some ways - I'm excited by it all and keen to give it another crack," McQuoid said.
"I don't have anything to prove this time around and because of that, most of my goals are team-orientated. I just want to have some fun and enjoy my rugby."
McQuoid made his debut for Waikato in 1998 as a 19-year-old against Bay of Plenty in an epic Ranfurly Shield defence, won 25-18. He played the Steamers a year later for a star-studded New Zealand Colts side, containing the likes of Doug Howlett, Nathan Mauger, Rico Gear, Kevin Senio, Jerry Collins, Chris Jack and Carl Hayman. He next linked with Senio in 2003 when they both played for the Steamers. It was the start of an era which he sees as eerily similar to this year.
"The Bay have brought some new players in from other provinces and they're players with something to prove. They're trying to kick-start their careers again, a lot like I was and a few other guys in my first years with the Bay - guys like Kevin Senio, Bernie Upton, Rua Tipoki, Ben Castle and Simms Davison.
"2004 was the greatest season of my career, because the team contained a special group of guys who had played together for a while. This group here is so similar though - it's really close off the field and they all get on so well. I'm looking for some similar great moments this season."
There are few survivors from McQuoid's last match for the Steamers in 2006. That game against Northland was Tanerau Latimer's debut, while Colin Bourke, Mike Delany and John Moore were also involved.
Latimer has now played 42 matches for the province, one more than McQuoid, while Bourke is closing in on 70.
Now with three young sons, McQuoid and wife Cherie are comfortably settled back in Tauranga. His Waikato roots are distant memories; he returns to Hamilton tomorrow with only one purpose.
"You get so passionate about wanting to win that you can't keep that soft spot for a team like Waikato, otherwise you'll give them a chance. I'm still a proud Matamata College boy, but Waikato are now my favourite team to beat."
Waikato, meanwhile, have gone for an experienced lineup, with a strong tight-five\ featuring All Black hooker Aled de Malmanche. Waikato haven't beaten Bay of Plenty in a full NPC game since 2003.
Adding further spice to this match is their assistant coach Greg Smith was controversially dumped by the Steamers at the start of the 2009 season.