Crusaders winger Sevu Reece said he was delighted to break a "curse" and become Super Rugby's highest try-scorer, lifting his team atop the standings in the process.
The livewire Reece burrowed over from close range early in a tense 15-12 win over the Highlanders in Christchurch on Saturday.
It was his 66th try, all for the Crusaders and the most by any player in the 30-year history of the competition – one more than former Hurricanes scrum-half TJ Perenara.
Reece, who has played 32 tests for the All Blacks, said he had feared the record wouldn't come this year after enduring his longest career drought of six straight games without scoring.
He finally drew level with Perenara in last week's win over the New South Wales Waratahs before breaking the mark in front of his home supporters, giving him a tally of 66 tries from just 84 games.
"At the start of the season when no one was talking about it, I was scoring tries," Reece told Sky TV.
"But when everyone started to hype me, I couldn't score. The media would tell me: 'You've got one more to go'. Well that one more took me about seven weeks.
"It was like a curse there or something."
Reece said he expected his Fiji-based parents will have celebrated the record by drinking a bowl of kava – a drink consumed socially in the Pacific Islands for its relaxing effects.
GRATEFUL TO TEAMMATES
The 28-year-old conceded the crowd may not have been enthused by the nature of his try, which needed the video referee to confirm after he plunged over beneath a pile of bodies.
"I'd have loved to have scored a nice dive in the corner try, or something a bit nicer than that," he said.
"But a try's a try and what a place to do it – here in front of my fans and family.
"Honestly. I can't thank my teammates enough and the boys that I've played with in the past."
Of the top-10 all-time try-scorers, only Moana Pasifika back Julian Savea is still active, on 63 tries.
Victory over the last-placed Highlanders has lifted the Crusaders to 45 points, two clear of the second-placed Brumbies, who they play in next week's final round of the regular season.
The third-placed Chiefs are on 41 points but can control their destiny as they have two games remaining.