New Zealand rugby veteran Liam Messam joined an illustrious group of Waikato players over the weekend as he notched up his 100th game for the club.
The 38-year-old added his latest milestone to a string of previous achievements, including a 184-game career for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and more than 40 appearances for the national All Blacks side.
While Waikato was unable to clinch victory in the dying moments of Saturday’s match against Hawkes Bay, resulting in a 32-32 draw, Messam says the milestone week was a “humbling experience”.
“It was a huge honour, very humbling,” Messam said on SENZ’s The Run Home.
“It’s a bit awkward and a bit weird when they make the week about you … but Floss (Ross Filipo) and the coaching staff and everyone in Waikato; the players, staff and management really made an awesome effort to really celebrate the week.
“As awkward as it was, it was a really humbling experience.”
Having co-captained the Chiefs for several seasons and led the All Blacks haka at times, Messam has a wealth of experience in top-level rugby.
However, the veteran says the NPC will always hold a special place for him and he has enjoyed watching the younger players get their opportunity at the domestic level.
“I love the NPC, the quality of rugby (is immense),” Messam added.
“People are just out there having a go … sort of seems like Super Rugby, and so it should be, but I feel like (in the) NPC these young players get to express themselves a bit more with a bit more ball in the air.
“We got that on the weekend with two teams willing to throw the pill around for 90 minutes.”
Having drawn their first match of the season, Waikato will head into Round 2 in fourth position of the Odds Conference ahead of Bay of Plenty, Otago and Southland.
As yet, Wellington and Counties Manakau are topping one conference, while Canterbury and Auckland are heading the other.
Waikato will face Northland on Saturday afternoon at Semenoff Stadium, kicking off at 4:35pm NZST.