But one thing didn’t stun him, and that’s Rota Setu.

“He’s a pretty special player … I’m not surprised he got there,” O’Connor said.

“It was a mind-boggling finish.The noise coming from the grandstand was defining. I think that’s what pushed him across the line in the end.”

From fifth to the premiership, all in his first year at the helm of the Dragons’ O’Connor said the club always had a sense of belief entering the 2016 finals series.

“From the word go we stuck together. It wasn’t a surprise for us coming from fifth ... it genuinely wasn’t,” he said.

“We only lost one game in the second round. We knew there wasn’t anyone we couldn’t beat, and although we hadn’t beaten CYMS, the games we had were tight. 

“It’s the only time I’ve ever done anything like this. I’m still shaking my head.”