Northern strugglers backed to have impact

JASON ROBINSON believes the Premiership's northern triumvirate still retain the ability to gatecrash the sport's southern elite.

Sale Sharks and Newcastle Falcons have both won the Premiership title in the last decade but after a fallow period they go into this coming season – along with Leeds Carnegie – with few pundits expecting any of them to break into the top six.

The southern contingent of clubs from union's heartland of the West Country, London and Midlands continuously provide the serious championship contenders and have the money coming into the clubs through high attendances and, in some cases, rich benefactors to sustain that challenge year upon year.

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The trio of northern clubs, meanwhile, are fighting a constant battle to attract punters in predominently football and rugby league-mad areas.

But each of the three clubs from the top-flight's northern outposts has tasted Heineken Cup rugby in the past and Robinson believes that with a fair wind and early momentum at least one of them could reclaim their place in Europe's premier competition this season.

"Every year is different and it's never easy when you have the likes of Leicester, Saracens and Bath signing an abundance of high-quality players," said Robinson who won the Premiership title as a player with Sale in 2006 but could not repeat that last year as head coach of the Edgeley Park outfit who were dragged into a relegation fight with Leeds and Newcastle.

"Leeds showed a lot of character last year and avoiding relegation was a success for them, while at Sale we had a very disappointing year.

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"The priority for each of them this year is again avoiding relegation, but in the process of doing that you can put a run together and build momentum.

"That's when the ball really starts rolling because players play above themselves.

"The key is a good start, because if you have a few defeats, all of a sudden it's Christmas and you're embroiled in a relegation fight.

"But as we saw last year, just one or two results can turn it around, a win here or there at crucial points in the season can get you shooting up the league.

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"Granted, if either Sale, Leeds or Newcastle does that it will be an achievement, but it's certainly achievable."

Robinson comes out of retirement to play for new club Fylde next Saturday while his old club Sale kicked off the Premiership campaign with a 35-18 victory at home to Newcastle last night.