As the Newcastle Knights prepare for their first NRL grand final appearance in 25 years, fans are revisiting a viral moment tied to another of the club’s famous victories.
Following the Knights’ surprise victory over the Penrith Panthers on Sunday former player Matthew Johns was overcome with emotion as he opened his Fox Sports show.
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Johns’ teary admission prompted Sunrise host Nat Barr to look back at the interview she did with the Knights legend the morning after the club won its first premiership in 1997.
Johns was the only player brave enough to accept an on-air interview with then-reporter Barr after a big night of celebrations.
Johns looked like a deer in headlights standing next to Barr as she introduced him and asked him to “tell us a bit about what that feeling was like coming home to Newcastle last night”.
In a response that has since gone viral, Johns replied: “It was better than...”
“It was the best feeling I’ve ever had,” Johns said, adding that thousands of people had lined the Newcastle streets to welcome the team back from Sydney.
Barr reflected on the hilarious interview on Monday morning.
Johns himself has said he recalls nothing about the interview.
As the team went on to win its second premiership the following year, he was playing for Wigan in the UK, before one last NRL season with the Cronulla Sharks in 2002.
The Knights are set to face the Sydney Roosters in the NRL grand final on Sunday.