The Knights dominated the first half so comprehensively champion halfback Andrew Johns was already looking ahead to the grand final, sledging Roosters forward Luke Ricketson at the break.
But Joey’s trash talk came back to bite him as Brad Fittler and Co. cottoned on to Newcastle’s new approach in the second stanza.
“We play the first half against the Roosters, I think we were leading 16-2, and I remember walking up the tunnel honestly thinking to myself, ‘We’re going to win this by 40 points’,” Matty said.
“Joey said to Ricko, ‘Mate, get ready for f***ing Mad Monday.
“What had happened in the Roosters sheds, (coach) Graham Murray had picked up that we’re just defending outside-in, we’re pre-empting. Our wingers are coming outside-in, just blindly.
“So he and Freddy (Fittler) had worked it out and in the second half, what was working for us didn’t (work anymore) because he was just catching the ball and throwing double cut-out (passes to get past the wingers rushing in).
“That was a really big lesson.”
Fittler inspired a Roosters comeback and the tri-colours beat the Knights 26-20 to book their place in the decider, where they lost to the Broncos.
