It's like Maro Itoje is living in a Harry Potter set! Alex Goode impressed by Saracens teammate's trophy collection

Alex Goode of Saracens and England poses with the Aviva Premiership Player of the Season Trophy
Christopher Lee/Getty Images
Chris Jones20 May 2016

Maro Itoje has collected so many awards it came as a shock to Alex Goode when he beat his Saracens team-mate to the Aviva Premiership Player of the Season trophy this week.

On the way to the ceremony in London, Goode called into Itoje’s home, where there was ample evidence of the success enjoyed by Europe’s Player of the Year.

The full-back said: “I popped around to Maro’s house and it was like a scene from a Harry Potter film with all of these silver cups multiplying and appearing to come out of the door! He has given some to his family but still seems to have about 15 on the shelves.

“To beat Maro in anything is an achievement at the moment and I was humbled to receive the award. I always measure myself by my consistency and the influence and impact I have in an unbelievable team.”

Having helped Saracens win the European Champions Cup against Racing 92 last weekend, Goode’s next target is tomorrow’s Premiership play-off semi-final against Leicester at Allianz Park.

The country-wide appreciation of England Grand Slam winners Itoje and Goode is in stark contrast to the reaction Saracens as a club receive.

“I think it’s an English thing and I believe it helps Saracens,” said 29-year-old Goode. “A few of the boys were talking the other day about how none of the guys got shortlisted for the Rugby Players’ Association Player of the Season award and we laughed. It makes you feel like you are in a bubble and it is us against the world.

Sarries star's house is 'filled with silver cups', says Goode

“You become closer and take the attitude ‘sod that’ and we will continue going our way — in the right direction — and not worry about other opinions. Andy Goode (who only played on a short-term contract for Newcastle) was in the voting for that Player of the Season award and, no offence to him, but that made a mockery of it.

“It is not a siege mentality, we take the view that if other people want to be like that fine, we are happy in our own skins. One of my England team-mates earlier this season said to me, ‘I hope you guys lose in the Premiership tomorrow’ but told me to take it as a compliment because we were playing well.”

For tickets to the Aviva Premiership Final on May 28 visit premiershiprugby.com/final. Warm up for the big day by taking an #AvivaTacklingNumbers maths test at aviva.co.uk/tacklingnumbers for the chance to win rugby prizes

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