Crosswell made his Super rugby debut against the Blues and played nine games for the Hurricanes last year.
He is relieved to be injury free this year because he has had a frustrating time over the last two years.
"When I started with Manawatu in 2006 I had two dream years because the body was fine," he said.
He had hamstring problems in 2009 and missed seven weeks of rugby.
In the final Super 14 game for the Hurricanes last year he ruptured a posterior cruciate ligament in his knee and when that came right he had a different injury on the same knee that ended his ITM Cup campaign.
"It was just a bit of bad luck," he said. "The body's feeling better now. But it was frustrating, and especially in 2009 when I was pushing for a Super contract.
"The boys were playing good rugby and I just wanted to be out there with them. The biggest frustration [about being injured] is not being able to play and do what you love."
Crosswell has been part of the new Highlanders team that has lifted its performance this year.
"I'd put it down to team culture," he said. "In ability we are not as strong as other franchises so we wanted a point of difference."
He gave credit coach to Jamie Joseph and captain Jamie Mackintosh for creating the right sort of environment.
"We have lots of fun and turn up to work hard," he said. "We enjoy each other's company."
Crosswell played for the Feilding High School First XV for four years and was one of the few players from a small co-educational school to play for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2004.
The next year he was in the New Zealand Under-19 team that lost the final of the world championships to South Africa 20-15 at Durban.
He is not disappointed at not making the All Blacks but it remains his longer-term goal.
"I've been injured and just wanted to get my body right," he said. "My first priority was to get on to the field for the Highlanders and try and get a starting spot here.
"To get into the All Blacks has been my goal since I was a young kid. It is still my ultimate goal." When Crosswell captained Manawatu for seven games in 2009 he tried to follow the example of his first Manawatu captain, Josh Bradnock.
"He was well respected and led by example," he said. "He never spoke too much. He is similar to Jamie McIntosh. He leads from the front."
Crosswell said he enjoyed the spirit of the Manawatu NPC team two years ago, a side as well known for its unusual hairstyles as much as its rugby then.
"There was nothing co-ordinated. The guys just went off on their own tangents and did their own thing. We were just having a bit of fun."
Player profile
Nick Crosswell
Age: 26.
Education: Feilding HS
Home town: Feilding
Position: Loose forward
Record: NZ Schoolboys (2004), NZ Under-19 (2005), NZ Under-21 (2007), Manawatu (2006-2010), Hurricanes (2010), Highlanders (2011)
