Lots of fans, players and even management make constant
reference to the Warriors “needing” to be like Exeter Chiefs. But I don’t agree, I think we need to set our
sights higher!
Cast your memory back to the last game of the 2004/5 Zurich
Premiership, Warriors at home to Northampton Saints. 8,500 fans turned up to
watch the likes of Delport, Rasmussen, Windo, Gillies and Sanderson take on,
the then fellow relegation contenders, Saints.
We won that game 21-19 thanks to tries by Raz, Powell and Hickey,
finished the season in 9th place and watched in relief as Harlequins
were relegated.
The following season we bettered that finish coming in joint
7th (8th). It
looked like we were in the Premiership to stay and that we were progressively
getting better.
In the 2006/7 season Northampton Saints found themselves in
our current position – last. Ending the season in bottom place 1 point behind
us, having finished in 11th place.
A 9-10 away victory, on New Year’s Day 2007, at Franklins Gardens proved
the decisive result. This should have
kicked us into gear to progress up the league and could, easily have ruined the
Saints – it would appear it had the opposite affect – on both teams.
The relegated Saints squad included the likes of Diggin,
Cohen, Spencer, Thompson and Hartley.
After a successful season in National Division 1, winning both the
league and the cup, Northampton have gone on from strength to strength.
Building a squad, bringing on youth and building on a
winning culture around the club Saints have won or contested for silverware in
every season since their relegation.
THIS is what we want to emulate.
In the same period we have lost top talent, such as Wood,
Kitchener, Benjamin, Kvesic, Mullan, been relegated twice and won promotion
once, but not really contested for anything higher than the relegation battle
in the Premiership or group stage European rugby.
Yes Exeter have a sound business model, Yes they have taken
on the premiership and pushed for European glory, but in 8 year’s time would I
rather we had followed the Chiefs route or the Saints route? The statistics speak for themselves:
Northampton Saints, since being promoted back to top tier
rugby:
2008/9
Guiness A League Winners
Amlin Challenge Cup Winners
2009/10
Anglo-Welsh Cup Winners
2010/11
Heineken Cup Runners Up
2011/12
Anglo-Welsh Cup Runners Up
2012/13
Aviva Premiership Runners Up
2013/14
Anglo-Welsh Cup Runners Up
Amlin Challenge Cup Winners
Aviva Premiership Winners
Right now we can only dream of club honours anything like
those of Saints, but they have proved it is possible, following relegation, to
climb to the top.
Retaining the likes of Creevy, Thomas and Pennell was a
massive step in the right direction.
Signing experienced and exciting players like Sanderson, Mulchrone,
Biggs and Mills shows that the club are pushing, they are serious about
becoming a top club.
Nick Johnston could be our key man for finally becoming the
big club we all know the Warriors can be.
He has been there and done it.
Johnston joined Saints in 2008 and has been part of the revelation that
are now, Aviva Premiership Champions - Northampton Saints.
Can we look forward to back to back Premiership finals in
2021? If so, it will, in part be down to
the clubs desire to bring in talent, expand the academy and create a winning
rugby culture. Should it happen then not
only can we look forward to teams like Toulon and Leinster coming to Sixways we
can look forward to having one of the best grounds in English rugby. Get the results, bring in the fans and the
Sixways 20/20 plan will be completed – 20,000 seats by 2020.
We are 1 year into a 5 year plan, I think we need to look
further ahead, going 1 better than the Chiefs and doing it the Saints way.
