2001- When the Knights kept their composure (unlike the previous year where they let emotions get in the way of putting the Roosters to the sword) and finished off a Sharks team that were a lethal attacking side (Rogers, Campbell, Peachey in the backs and toilers like Stevens and Lang in the forwards). Out of the other remaining teams (Broncos and Eels) it was the Sharks who I feared most. After staying focused and not making desperate/ irrational plays and Ben Kennedy barging over to seal it, then I had a good feeling they were mentally 'ready' to make up for missing the GF the previous year.
All that week Parra fans/ the media seemed so cocky about the Eels winning, like it was a given. Bias aside, I had this feeling that they'd been lulled into a false sense of confidence and that being viewed as little more than "the other team" played perfectly into Newcastle's hands.
Then on GF night, when Kennedy barged across for the second try (after Billy Peden's opening try) I knew that mentally, we had it over Parra. The final score was just 6 points difference, but it was virtually game over by halftime. Knights were on 'cruise' mode the second half and Parra left it way too late to try and catch up.
