Let's share the Chiefs' glory

The Big O is dominating sport and our news right now.

But Northlanders should perhaps also pause to consider the Super 15 champions the Chiefs.

In the formative years of the Super competition, Northland was part of the Chiefs franchise.

Taniwha rugby heroes such as Glenn Taylor and Ian Jones spent a fair amount of time with cow bells ringing in their ears, before the superpower that was then Auckland rugby diminished to the point that administrators decided a truly regional feeder system was in order, and Northland became part of the Blues.

(Can I mention at this juncture, something I failed to point out during the World Cup - the sight of Taylor on the stadium banks, soaking up the atmosphere with the great unwashed. As a former Super player, Northland captain and All Black, he could easily have swanked his way into the corporate section.)

So the Blues got Northland.

Diehard local fans took a while to embrace being rugby bedfellows with the enemy (the Aucks) but here we are 10 years or so later, with a jersey that features more than its share of our beloved Cambridge blue colour, and several Northland players in the Blues.

And not a trophy in the cupboard.

So let's share the Chiefs' glory - we're whanau after all, maybe not first rugby cousins but certainly we're cuzzies.

It was a delight to see a team that embraced the spirit of attacking rugby, with a defence built on heart.

Well done Chiefs.

Ka rawe to mahi.