Cooper Johns

But what was he like at training?

Like, was he doing freaky things at training?

Or even his preseason leading into that year, did you know something special was coming?

No, no.

I...

I remember when I went into Melbourne, the first year they made the grand final against the Roosters, and leading into that week, Billy Slater did a big talk on – he was like, well-planned trick plays win big games, and he showed the two tries from that.

The first one was – I think the first one was where they set up a play because the right half – I don't remember who the right half was for you guys that day.

Josh Reynolds.

Josh Reynolds.

They'd seen a tendency in his game that whenever you'd put a back rower on his outside shoulder –

he'd leave the inside play and have only eyes for him and he'd slide out.

So they'd come up with that play where they'd pump to the back row and Slater would come between the half and the back row, which Slatsy scored on.

And then there was a tricky kick play that I think Matt Duffy might have been.

Justin.

Justin O'Neill had scored.

And it was so interesting when he broke it down.

It was like, mate, you only get a certain amount of opportunities in big games, so you need to pre-plan something.

Because even that 2014 grand final, you talk about the start where he breaks Sam Bird's cheekbone as well.

Yeah, didn't hit him hard enough.

And it was probably more of an underdog mentality because you finished seventh, whereas that 12, like you guys were the standard all year, finishing first as minor premiers.