Try guy Freeman had full belief Saints would find a way to win PREM final
Tommy Freeman says Saints were always confident they would eventually find a way past Exeter Chiefs in the Gallagher PREM final last Saturday.
England wing Freeman opened the scoring in the early stages, gathering a loose ball after a collision between two Exeter players on their own line.
But the Chiefs didn't lie down, fighting back to lead 17-14 during the second half before a quickfire double from George Hendy grabbed title glory for Saints.
"We made the point at the start of the game that we were top of the table for a reason and we've played rugby that we're really proud of," said Freeman, who finished the season with a remarkable record of 20 tries in just 19 appearances for his club.
"We knew that we were a fit team as well and when we get our game and multiple phases together, we've seen teams crack and defences slip up.
"We said it at the start that it might be the first five minutes, it might be 20 minutes, it might be 70 minutes where it happens, but we knew if we kept going we would get our rewards eventually."
Discussing his early try, Freeman said: "It was a little bit fortunate. There was a bit of a communication error and I was lucky enough to pick that up.
"But we knew that Exeter were a fit team and they wouldn't stop. They didn't, and they put us under pressure for a lot of that game.
"I didn't think it was going to be an easy ride but it was good to get the win in the end."
When asked how it feels to be a PREM champion for the second time in three years, Freeman said: "It's unbelievable.
"We said in recent weeks that the lads who are leaving us and the lads who are unfortunate not to be able to go onto the pitch put in the hours to prepare us for this moment.
"They did exceptionally well through the whole year so to do this and to celebrate as a whole group is a special feeling."
So does the feeling of winning the title this year differ to when Saints collected it in 2024?
"No, not really," Freeman said.
"It's the same feeling when you win silverware for the club, that special feeling of bringing it back up the M1 and celebrating with the people at home.
"On the pitch, there's different emotions going through your head and things like that but to pick up two titles at 25 years old is pretty special and we'll definitely look to get another one."