When his appointment for the Super Rugby Pacific season was confirmed on Wednesday in Christchurch, Havili said he took a couple of weeks to say 'yes'.
"I just wanted to make sure that I was going to get everything from me. The last time I was in captaincy was with Tasman; it takes a lot; you have to give a lot to the team.
Havili said he sought advice from his partner, outgoing captain lock Scott Barrett, and a few other more experienced players and got the advice that he was a good candidate for the job. He said he wanted to know if the players would back him and follow him.
"The guys in the leadership group said I was a good man for the job. I want to do my best for this team and lead them in the right stead.
He said he wanted to be a captain who connected to everyone while being down to earth.
"I love the game. I'm a nerd of the rugby game and I love to help."
While he is the first back appointed to the Crusaders captaincy role, he said he would seek help from the experienced players.
"There are a lot of guys who have played a lot of Test matches, and a lot of games for the Crusaders."
He can also call on the leadership he has played under, including Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Sam Whitelock, and Scott Barrett, for examples of the role.
"I've seen how they led the team and I've definitely taken a lot from those guys. They are the greats of our club."
Picking the side up from the disappointments of 2024 was going to be a new challenge.
"From those seven titles [the Crusaders won], you learn a lot about winning. There has been some downs and some lows on the way through those titles as well. I've seen both sides."
But it was about making the connections.
"When times get tough and the pressure comes on, when we get into the tough games back-to-back, that's where you start to build trust.
"All I want to do is make my players, and my team, trust that I'll be there in the big moments for them."
Havili said he was feeling in good condition ahead of the new campaign and is looking forward to having Wallaby James O'Connor's experience in the backline.
Coach Rob Penney said there were many conversations around the captaincy, and Havili is an institution with 10 years of experience with the side.
"He's been an integral part of a lot of the success.
"He's a very humble man with a deep layer of strength and is strong and value-based. He's family-orientated and cares deeply about this place and the people within it. That will be reflective of how he leads the Crusaders.
"People will be very excited to see him in this role."