Adam Mogg credits performance psychologist Dr Phil Jauncey for his stellar performances for Queensland in the 2006 State of Origin campaign where he made a major contribution to a stunning series win.
Mogg, who was initially a surprise selection, played with the composure of a 20-game Origin veteran to score three tries in his two games for Queensland.
Everything he touched turned to gold.
Jauncey has worked with leading Queensland players for decades and in 2006 he gave Mogg the mental clarity he needed to tackle his greatest rugby league challenge.
"I was in the QueensIand Origin emerging squad that year and got a lot of confidence after I met Phil Jauncey through that process," Mogg said.
"Phil was great for me and we still keep in contact. I call him a performance coach. He does a lot of mind profiling.
"His influence was a big turning circle for me in understanding how I think and why I think the way I do. That was the key for me going on to play some of my best footy after I met Phil.
"I found out that I was thinking way too much about rugby league when I was away from rugby league, so once I unlocked that key thing I got a lot more confidence and was a lot more relaxed about my footy in that Origin series and that helped me to go on and develop.”
By 2006 Mogg had played most of his career in the centres but started the year at Canberra on the wing with great success. He said it was "a surprise" to be lining up there in clubland after training in the pre-season at right centre but it worked a treat. After seven games that season he had already crossed for six tries.
The Maroons had lost the opening game of the 2006 series and the stars aligned for the 28-year-old Mogg to get his call-up.
"I was at training and it might have been Don Furner who came to see me to say I’d been called up for Queensland," Mogg said.
"It obviously hit the media and there were cameras at training and I was doing interview after interview. I was on the phone that night for two hours talking to journos because I had come out of left field with my selection.
"Looking back I was just lucky that GI had torn his hamstring. There was no way I would have been picked ahead of him, but I was playing good footy for the Raiders on the wing and got my opportunity."
Channel Nine commentator Peter Sterling had joked he was 'Adam who?' in commentary before Game II at Suncorp Stadium, but after 80 minutes Mogg had scored a double. He was on hand to support Johnathan Thurston after the maestro Maroons halfback swooped on a loose ball and got a magical offload away, and showed great class to finish in the left corner after a precision Cameron Smith pass. The Maroons levelled the series with a 30-6 win and Mogg had well and truly played his part.
"I remember it really well. I got to play with Darren Lockyer, Petero Civoniceva and Steve Price and I know it was a series those guys are really proud of. I was really lucky," Mogg said.
"They were all under lots of pressure and you throw the old 'Adam who?' into the mix and Queensland were meant to get pumped.
"Before Game II I just remember how well we trained and how focused everyone was. By the time we ran out on Suncorp Stadium there was no way we were going to play bad. Everyone played well."
The Maroons went to Melbourne for the decider still under immense pressure after losing the previous three series. The careers of Lockyer and company were still in the balance.
In one of the great Queensland wins the Mal Meninga-coached side fought back from a 14-4 deficit to win 16-14 and take the series, with Lockyer’s late try the match sealer.
Mogg scored a cracker in the first half when he leapt high to snaffle a Thurston bomb and place the ball down millimetres inside the touch-in-goal line.
"As I was playing out of position on the wing I went in to both the games with a real focus on my kick-chase and when you have got two great kickers like JT and Locky kicking the ball you know they are going to kick it right nine and a half times out of ten," Mogg said.
"It wasn’t a try that JT and I had planned. He put it up and I just reacted to it.
"There was a bit of luck to it to be honest. I predominantly had a right-hand carry. I caught that ball and as I was tackled for some reason I put it down with my left hand.
"I only scored two tries in my whole career with my left hand and that was one of them. It was a real instinct thing. It was one of those plays where you just go 'wow'."
It was a magic night for the Maroons and for Mogg.
"I was very lucky to be involved in a series that will go down in folklore," Mogg said.
"It was just great that Darren Lockyer got to score that winning try under the posts because he deserved it more than anyone."
For Mogg it turned out to be his final Origin game. In the middle of 2006 he had made a verbal agreement to join Catalans in the Super League
"It was important to me that I stuck to my word and went across but I probably wish I had stuck around for a few more years at Canberra because I enjoyed playing there," Mogg said.
Mogg did get to play in a Challenge Cup final for Catalans against St Helens in 2007 at Wembley during his four seasons at the club. He played five-eighth in that 30-8 loss after beating a star-studded Wigan outfit to get there.
"I remember the final at Wembley in front of 84,000 people well because we had a young player, Younes Khatabbi, who was crying in the sheds before we ran out because he was overwhelmed," Mogg said.
"I gave him a cuddle and said 'let's go out and enjoy this and just do your best'. He scored a try that day and for him it will be something to remember for the rest of his life.
"For me, it was great. I had played a bit of five-eighth in France and in the final I got to play alongside Stacey Jones in the halves which was special."
Mogg finished his career at the Raiders in 2010 with no expectation of rebooting his Maroons career.
"I am just thankful to have played my small part. I couldn’t ask for much more as a kid growing up in Queensland. I got to play for the Maroons and I am very honoured and very proud," Mogg said.
Mogg is now the Redcliffe Dolphins head coach in the Intrust Super Cup where he has enjoyed success. He was at the helm of the club for the 2018 premiership win but like all coaches in the competition will now have to wait until 2021 when the Intrust Super Cup reboots.
Post-match: Adam Mogg
It is a role he enjoys immensely.
"We have high expectations at our club," Mogg said.
"This pre-season was our best by a country mile both in terms of effort and talent. I was really excited about this season because we have a great group of leaders and some young men who have turned their lives around and who are still training to this day.
"Unfortunately it didn’t pan out the way we had hoped but it has been a real positive to see some of the guys continue with their own personal growth."
And on the subject of personal growth, Jauncey is still having an influence on Mogg and the young men that he mentors.
"I still utilise Phil here at Redcliffe and have done for five years. The players that listen and learn from him, you can almost see the lights go on for them," Mogg said.
"I like him because he doesn’t over-complicate things. There is enough noise going on these days for players with social media and reading about themselves.
"I think Phil keeps it nice and simple for them. He certainly helped me to play better football that is for sure."
