“That’s it, the whistle has gone and the Giants have won another final, where will they get the space to fit all of their trophies? as for the Saints, yet another loss, that makes it 3 in 5 years, these guys just seem to keep getting stuck at the last hurdle”
Another loss, i cant take it, this year was our year. went went harder than we did last year, we trained harder, were more fitter, followed a stricter diet. hell we even watched the last 4 finals before this, studied both sides.
What else can we do to get a win?
Our fans deserve more.
For everyone involved with the Saints, the loss had been tuff on everyone, the whole city was behind the boys. but for coach Steve, this loss really hit him hard.
He has been on the losing side 3 times now in 5 years, the support he had from the people on top was there, but after another loss, how long would they keep him in charge?
Would he even want to go at it again next year?
“Put that dam tv off Steve, it will drive you nuts listening to that nonsense over and over again”
“ I cant help it love, they are not wrong in what they are saying, we lost again. the board is going to under a huge amount of pressure now to make a change”
“You did your best, and so did those boys, they gave everything. it is what it is”
“Maybe it is time for a change, what you think?”
“I’ll follow you anywhere babe, we’ve been here for 5 years now. the boys have settled in nicely here, not sure how they will react hey”
“Boys will be fine, i had an approach from the Bulls a couple months back, remember? i turned them down then, wonder if they will still be interested?”
“In you, 100% they will, i think you should give them a call in the morning”
A local radio station was doing the sport news, up in Bulls country. a few hours away from coach Steve and his Saints team.
An man with a husky voice started to talk.
“The bulls are a fine outfit, they had recently built a new training facility, stadium was being upgraded, more emphasis was being put on recruitment. All they need is a coach who can buy into their vision.”
“Chris they thought Steve was their guy, but he turned them down. why would they want him now, why would he want to come here after the final?”
“Pat, he needs a change, somethings not right over there, you cant make 3 finals in 5 years and not win one. i think he should come here.”
At the headquarters of the Bulls, Paul and Adam, who are the head recruiters were going through there list for potential head coaches. they needed someone new, after a dreadful season. it was the first time in their history that they hadn’t won even a single game.
They fired their head coach, Randy half way through the season. but even then things didn’t change, not that it was Saul’s fault, he was just an assistant, how could he have been ready to take over as coach mid way through the season, with no experience has a head coach at that level.
Adam was in his late forties, his hair was almost fully grey at this point, his face was starting to show the affects of a long season. he couldn’t sleep even if he tried, the bags under his eyes were a proof of that.
He made it his mission to find some before the new season began, the bulls needed to win, even if it was just to keep everyone calm. he and the staff and him could use that.
“Adam did you hear what the guys on the radio just said?”
“What they say”
“They think we should go for Coach Steve, i mean we already tried before, what makes them think he will say yes this time?”
“I don’t know, couldnt hurt to try, could it? at least he knows how to win, maybe not a final, but he can win, and boy do we need someone who can provide that”
Paul started walking up and down in his office, thinking to himself, this is the perfect opportunity for us to strike. Steve would take the deal.
Paul called out for his secretary.
“Kirsty”
A woman with long blond hair, wearing a blue jeans with a black top on came in.
“Yes, Sir”
“Can you bring me that offer we sent through to Steve, the Bulls coach”
“Right away”
Kirsty brought the offer through a couple minutes later. it was a very generous offer, but if they wanted him this time, that offer needed to be even more tempting than before.
“lets throw in a house, a car for him and the wife hey, what you think?”
“His boys are done with school at then end of this year, see if you can get a hold of tim at Colden, he still owes you right? tell him, he needs to make space for those two next year”
“I’m on it, shouldn’t be a problem, after what i had to do for him last year”
Adam and Paul where moving fast, that radio conversation had lit a spark up their backside. they couldn’t fail this time. otherwise it would be them who would be looking for a job next season.
A few weeks before the new season started coach Steve got all his guys out to the training grounds. he wanted to talk with the boys.
“Coach, what are we doing here? preseason is still 3 weeks away? our wife’s have already given us so much grief leaving them all alone, this better be quick”
Steve pulled Ian aside so that the others couldn’t hear what he wanted to tell him.
“I know Ian, I need to tell you guys something, before the media tells you”
“You leaving us right? Come on coach don’t go, we can win it this time”
Ian had been the captain since Steve took charge, the boys respected him, he was not just the captain, but one of the star players on the team, playing lock, you had to be on your game all the time.
Ian was a tad shy of 2 meters, had short black hair, brown eyes, he signed for the Saints pretty much straight out of high school. the scouts had been looking at him since craven week when he lit up almost every game. Stealing line out after lineout, more importantly captaining the KZN side to a win in the final.
The board at the Saints had seen that and decided to put a lot of money into him, to get him ready for the future. Saints hadn’t won anything for over 30 years, the drought had been long enough, they had to start looking ahead.
And so, the day before the craven week final, Ross who was the lead recruiter, offered Ian a deal he couldn’t refuse, a 10-year contract, house, car and the highest salary that anyone has ever gotten starting out in the league’s history.
By offering such a deal, it was thought that it would be the start of something new. The saints hired Steve be their lead coach shortly after.
“Gather around everyone, i know we should still be on holiday, but i’ve got some news to share with you that couldn’t wait any longer. if I don’t tell you then you will find it out through the news sometime tomorrow, I guess”
Steve looked around at his players and could see the eyes of some of older guys who were standing at the back, they seemed to know what was coming, they’ve been around long enough to know anyway.
“A while back the Bulls approached me, about halfway through the season, they wanted me to come up next season to be their head coach, on a multiyear deal. I turned them down the second I heard it, I didn’t want to leave you guys, but after yet another defeat. I think its time for me to move on, try something new, a new challenge and for you, maybe having a new set of eyes will help get you over the finish line, which I’m sure you will do.”
“Coach, the Bulls, really?”
“Tyron, let me finish”
“So a couple days ago, they founded me again, invited me to come up and take a look around at what they got. So, yea, I went and liked what I saw, really impressive what they got going up their. We had a meeting and long story short, they are going to offer me a 3 year deal with an option for another 2 provided we meet certain things.”
Steve was dreading this moment, he had become a father to most of them, and they like sons to him. They were a family, that was about to be broken up.
“So, this week is my last week with you guys, Wyatt has agreed to be the acting head coach while Ross and his team are working on a deal to sign Tim from Rangers, he’s a really good coach, as you are all aware he has taken them from the bottom, all the way to the semifinals this year. I have spoken to Ross, and he has assured me that no one will be cut this year, if he signs with us”
Randy stood up, “coach I don’t care about that, you are our coach, we want you to stay, we will win the cup this year. the Bulls don’t even know how to win a game”
“That’s why I have to go son, we can’t win this if I am here, you all need someone new, with fresh ideas. Tim will take you to where I can’t, sometimes in life in order for a team or company to be successful. it is the leader that needs to step aside and let someone else take the team forward. I might have been looking to much into the past, when we needed someone who could look to the future”
It was at that moment when Ian stood up and started to speak.
“Boys Coach has spoken, we need to accept it and move on, when Tim arrives we need to give him the respect he deserves. And by the way, coach, we are going to kick your ass when you come here in a couple months’ time, so you better head off and prepare”
That brought out laughter from everyone, one by one they went up to coach, Shacked his hand, gave a hug or two and told him how much he meant to them.
“You made the right choice, the only way for us to move on is for this to happen” Sarah said.
“I know love, doesn’t make it any easier does it?'“
“It doesn’t, but now that it is done, you need to move on, from now on when you face them, you have to beat them. they will always be like family us, but on the pitch they are just another team that we need to beat”
“it didn’t take you long, to move on, what changed?”
“Nothing really” Sarah said
“Let me guess, you have already found a place for us, haven’t you?'“
“I have, and you must see the views, the boys are going to love it, change is good”
“I sure hope so, preseason is going to be tuff this year. i think i’m going to head up there this weekend to get started. you ok, me leaving you? there’s still a lot to pack up, i can stay if you want?”
“No ,no, please don’t stay, you will drive me crazy”
Steve left on Saturday morning to go to his new home, the Bulls. he liked the sound to that. when he got to his new office, he felt at ease, like a weight had been lifted off him. this team hadn’t lost 3 finals in 5 years, this team hadn’t even been to one in 35 years, their goal was to first win a game never mind a final.
He thought to himself later that day, wondering why he hadn’t made the move earlier on. was it just because he was familiar with how everything worked at the saints, he knew who everyone was, and in turn everyone knew who he was.
Over here not many people outside of the rugby world knew him, and he liked that, he could use that to build a solid foundation. this time, he had the final say on who signed for the team and more importantly who could be let go.
Preseason was maybe a few weeks a way, but for Steve it has already started. could he do it again? reach another final?
He knew he could.
He opened up his new journal and made a short first entry.
The fight is not over, i will win this fight, this team will make it to the final and we will win it. this is why i came here, this is why they signed me, come on Steve lets do it.