In Pacific Rim when Newt is talking to Hannibal Chow Hannibal says

I tried it once... once!

I'm unclear whether he previously tried to drift with the kaiju, it's implied when he shows his eye that this is the case however if so he's contradicting himself when he told Newt that

Maybe that's because no one has ever drifted with one before!

So I'm unclear, is he referring to drifting or perhaps going to a public refuge?