Hurricanes fan Craig Werder of Hawera. Photo / Facebook
Hardcore Hurricanes fan Craig Werder has spent a cool $30,000 supporting his beloved team and is hoping tonight they will repay him with an elusive Super Rugby title.
The Taranaki dairy farmer has backed the Canes since his dad took him to a match in New Plymouth in 1996.
He was a 15-year-old kid living in his parents' pink-walled sleepout.
"I thought: 'Well, this isn't really ideal'. Pink walls ain't really it for a rugby fan, so yellow and black were slapped on.
Among the hundreds of merchandise and prized items he owns are 37 official team jerseys, another 18 signed jerseys, 14 polo shirts, 34 T-shirts, seven jackets and numerous hats, scarves, beanies and teddy bears.
He has a Hurricanes-branded fridge and his car has the number plate: HCANES.
Werder has been to 53 of the Hurricanes' 271 competition matches since their inception in 1996.
His cell phone mailbox tells you: "You have reached Hurricane."
" I'm a big fan," he laughs. "I've followed them for 21 years - 21 years of heartbreak.
"We've had two finals; one final we couldn't even see because of fog and last year's disappointment.
"But all will be forgiven if they get over the line on Saturday night."
The Hurricanes will take on the Lions in front of a sold-out crowd at Wellington's Westpac Stadium tonight.
Werder will travel to the capital this morning with partner Sheree Bridgeman , who he says has become a big fan.
"I'll milk the cows at [4.30am] then leave here about 9 o'clock."
He said he had enjoyed watching the team's style of play and had a real respect for its players.
Asked if he had ever liked another team, such as the Blues,Werder laughs heartily. "Don't swear like that," he says. "The only Blues person I support is Tana Umaga - he was a Hurricanes legend and still is."
Hagley Oval has a new head groundsman ahead of the first test of the summer.