KNIGHTS great Andrew Johns yesterday attacked the credibility of South Sydney coach Jason Taylor over his claims that rival Michael Hagan had departed Newcastle for Parramatta leaving the club in a state of disarray.
Responding to the extraordinary post-match outburst on Sunday - where Taylor told Hagan he'd "f...ed up Newcastle" - Johns said the Rabbitohs coach was off the mark about Hagan's impact on the Knights.
"He won a premiership at the club and if you have a look at players like myself, Ben Kennedy, Danny Buderus . . . when did we play our best footy? It was under his coaching," Johns said.
"I'm not sure where JT (Taylor) is coming from having a crack over something he obviously doesn't know too much about."
Taylor let fly at his coaching rival on Sunday, saying: "How f..... are you. Brian Smith's rebuilding what you f..... up (in Newcastle)."
Hagan claimed yesterday he hadn't fully heard the comments directed at him after the pair had crossed paths following the game.
"We walked past each other after the press conference and there was a bit said about the warm-up," Hagan said.
"But he was a fair distance away from me when he apparently had a bit of a swipe again.
"I haven't really got much more to say on it to be honest other than I think I left Newcastle in a pretty good state.
"We had a top four finish last year and the Jersey Flegg side made the grand final and four from that team are now playing first grade.
"I don't think he is all that qualified to comment on that, do you?"
Johns, who rose to superstar status under Hagan's coaching at the Knights, agreed.
"Hages has had a massive impact on the Knights and doesn't need me to talk him up," Johns said.
"Bedsy (Buderus) is still playing great now but back in 2005 when he won all the awards, he virtually carried the side that year.
"(Taylor) must have just been caught up in the emotion of going back to Parramatta Stadium and being on the losing side."
Asked about his own influence on Hagan's coaching, Johns said: "All that stuff about me coaching the side when he was here was garbage. Sure, I had input but so did all the senior players."
And while Souths said the issue was "dead as a doornail" yesterday, Eels boss Denis Fitzgerald fired another potshot at Bunnies CEO Shane Richardson.
"I didn't think Shane Richardson was still at Souths," Fitzgerald said.
"All comments in recent times have come from Peter Holmes a Court or Russell Crowe."
Responding to the extraordinary post-match outburst on Sunday - where Taylor told Hagan he'd "f...ed up Newcastle" - Johns said the Rabbitohs coach was off the mark about Hagan's impact on the Knights.
"He won a premiership at the club and if you have a look at players like myself, Ben Kennedy, Danny Buderus . . . when did we play our best footy? It was under his coaching," Johns said.
"I'm not sure where JT (Taylor) is coming from having a crack over something he obviously doesn't know too much about."
Taylor let fly at his coaching rival on Sunday, saying: "How f..... are you. Brian Smith's rebuilding what you f..... up (in Newcastle)."
Hagan claimed yesterday he hadn't fully heard the comments directed at him after the pair had crossed paths following the game.
"We walked past each other after the press conference and there was a bit said about the warm-up," Hagan said.
"But he was a fair distance away from me when he apparently had a bit of a swipe again.
"I haven't really got much more to say on it to be honest other than I think I left Newcastle in a pretty good state.
"We had a top four finish last year and the Jersey Flegg side made the grand final and four from that team are now playing first grade.
"I don't think he is all that qualified to comment on that, do you?"
Johns, who rose to superstar status under Hagan's coaching at the Knights, agreed.
"Hages has had a massive impact on the Knights and doesn't need me to talk him up," Johns said.
"Bedsy (Buderus) is still playing great now but back in 2005 when he won all the awards, he virtually carried the side that year.
"(Taylor) must have just been caught up in the emotion of going back to Parramatta Stadium and being on the losing side."
Asked about his own influence on Hagan's coaching, Johns said: "All that stuff about me coaching the side when he was here was garbage. Sure, I had input but so did all the senior players."
And while Souths said the issue was "dead as a doornail" yesterday, Eels boss Denis Fitzgerald fired another potshot at Bunnies CEO Shane Richardson.
"I didn't think Shane Richardson was still at Souths," Fitzgerald said.
"All comments in recent times have come from Peter Holmes a Court or Russell Crowe."
