Dolphins players have revealed how coach Wayne Bennett resorted to subterfuge and stirring their emotions before the stunning 40-6 derby win over Brisbane that has them in the frame to play finals.
The master coach lived up to his name in preparing his side to perfection to record their best ever win and move into eighth. A win over Newcastle in the final round will secure a finals berth.
Bennett's tactics included a "red herring" training session and an inspirational speech that had players ready to run through brick walls at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
The Dolphins trained on Tuesday on their media day without players in a traditional team pattern so it was impossible for observers to tell who was playing where.
They then had a behind-closed-doors session on Wednesday where they fine-tuned key changes.
Queensland star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow switched from fullback to centre. Trai Fuller was brought into the side at No.1 and Jake Averillo switched from centre to five-eighth, changes the Broncos and the media were not aware of in their entirety until after their final training session on Friday. All three were sensational against Brisbane.
Centre and man of the match Herbie Farnworth explained Bennett's tactics.
"The first session of the week, we didn't even train in the right spot to try and trick the media a little bit," he said.
"I think it got leaked ... but obviously it worked today.
"You didn't know about (Wednesday's session), but we trained in our real spots then, so that was good. We enjoyed it."
Farnworth wasn't the only player to spill the beans on Bennett's mind games, which the coach found amusing.
"Would they tell you that? Wow. I will have to talk to those boys," Bennett joked, when told.
Bennett said the players who switched positions all fired.
"They played with confidence and all the things that you need to play well," Bennett said.
"I am pleased it worked for us. There was a risk there but it was worthwhile taking.
"On many occasions this year we had the game won, but lost it, so I thought making a change of positions might help us."
Prop Tevita Pangai Jnr dominated the middle of the field against his former club. Pangai revealed how Bennett, sacked by the Broncos in 2018 as coach, inspired the side up with a team talk on match eve.
"He was pretty animated and pretty fired up," Pangai Jnr said.
"I don't want to go into detail but I have never seen him like that before.
"He played some pretty crazy videos. I am not going to say any names ... but just look in the away sheds (where the Broncos were).
"Wayne knew we were missing six starters and had our backs against the wall and that is just the way we like it.
"Wayne has been in this situation before. It takes me back to 2020 when he led Queensland (to a 2-1 series victory) with a bunch of players that weren't wanted at other clubs, so it is pretty crazy what we did tonight."
Farnworth also hinted at the Broncos being the subject of Bennett's talk.
"I can't go into too much detail but he touched on a couple of things that's happened in the past between the two clubs so it fired all the boys up," he said.
