BULLDOGS skipper Michael Ennis' hopes of keeping his NSW State of Origin job suffered another significant setback yesterday - while a livid Des Hasler took aim at match officials after his team copped a 7-2 hiding in the penalties.
On a forgettable day for Canterbury, an uninjured Ennis was replaced late in the game after making just **_three metres from two runs all game._**
Those stats hardly compared to the performance of Souths hooker Issac Luke who charged for an incredible 141 metres from 13 runs.
But all the talk after the game wasn't about Ennis' dummy half running, but the penalties he gave away.
Ennis was placed on report for a high shot on Souths rookie Adam Reynolds in the 45th minute that led to the match-winning try.
He was also controversially penalised for not binding correctly in a 59th minute scrum, which coach Hasler labelled a "stupid" and "absolutely ridiculous" decision.
Ennis now has to back up next Saturday when he goes one-on-one with Melbourne and Queensland skipper Cameron Smith as he fights to stay in contention with Newcastle's Danny Buderus and Melbourne's Ryan Hinchcliffe for NSW selection.
Not that the Bulldogs cared too much about Origin selection conundrums yesterday.
Hasler was seething at the penalty count and in particular the scrum incident that went against Ennis.
From the stands it appeared Ennis was penalised for back-chatting, but Hasler fired: "Imagine penalising a fellow in a scrum for not trying to get his arm around the shoulder, that's absolutely ridiculous.
"That is a stupid penalty - that is an unwarranted penalty and it doesn't make sense."
Ennis explained that shoulder strapping prevents him being able to raise his arm high enough to get over prop James Graham's shoulder.
He said: "I don't wear this brace for a laugh - there is a reason why I've got it on. It obviously restricts you.
"That's why I was saying: 'Mate, I can't get my arm up over James Graham,' - he is taller than me."
Ennis was also placed on report for a high tackle on Reynolds when he clumsily clipped the Souths rookie with an open-handed slap that didn't look hard enough to stun a blowfly.
The referee immediately ruled play on but when Reynolds stayed down it went to the video referee who placed Ennis on report.
It hardly compared to a stack of other tackles this year that have gone unchecked.
From the next set Reynolds produced a pin-point accurate cross-field bomb for Andrew Everingham to score and give Souths a 16-10 lead.
Reynolds then landed a touchline conversion to make it an eight-point break.
Asked about the tackle, Ennis said: "(It) hit him on the chest."
Hasler cut in: "I will tell you what, there'd be plenty of other tackles that have gone uncited, not put on report before an arm goes around the chest.
"I would have to listen to the audio but I thought the referee thought he had a clear view of it and he called play on."
Reynolds was adamant he didn't take a dive.
"The video will show it - he got me," he said.
"I felt a high hit and it shook me a bit.
"It knocked me around and cut the side of my lip."
On a forgettable day for Canterbury, an uninjured Ennis was replaced late in the game after making just **_three metres from two runs all game._**
Those stats hardly compared to the performance of Souths hooker Issac Luke who charged for an incredible 141 metres from 13 runs.
But all the talk after the game wasn't about Ennis' dummy half running, but the penalties he gave away.
Ennis was placed on report for a high shot on Souths rookie Adam Reynolds in the 45th minute that led to the match-winning try.
He was also controversially penalised for not binding correctly in a 59th minute scrum, which coach Hasler labelled a "stupid" and "absolutely ridiculous" decision.
Ennis now has to back up next Saturday when he goes one-on-one with Melbourne and Queensland skipper Cameron Smith as he fights to stay in contention with Newcastle's Danny Buderus and Melbourne's Ryan Hinchcliffe for NSW selection.
Not that the Bulldogs cared too much about Origin selection conundrums yesterday.
Hasler was seething at the penalty count and in particular the scrum incident that went against Ennis.
From the stands it appeared Ennis was penalised for back-chatting, but Hasler fired: "Imagine penalising a fellow in a scrum for not trying to get his arm around the shoulder, that's absolutely ridiculous.
"That is a stupid penalty - that is an unwarranted penalty and it doesn't make sense."
Ennis explained that shoulder strapping prevents him being able to raise his arm high enough to get over prop James Graham's shoulder.
He said: "I don't wear this brace for a laugh - there is a reason why I've got it on. It obviously restricts you.
"That's why I was saying: 'Mate, I can't get my arm up over James Graham,' - he is taller than me."
Ennis was also placed on report for a high tackle on Reynolds when he clumsily clipped the Souths rookie with an open-handed slap that didn't look hard enough to stun a blowfly.
The referee immediately ruled play on but when Reynolds stayed down it went to the video referee who placed Ennis on report.
It hardly compared to a stack of other tackles this year that have gone unchecked.
From the next set Reynolds produced a pin-point accurate cross-field bomb for Andrew Everingham to score and give Souths a 16-10 lead.
Reynolds then landed a touchline conversion to make it an eight-point break.
Asked about the tackle, Ennis said: "(It) hit him on the chest."
Hasler cut in: "I will tell you what, there'd be plenty of other tackles that have gone uncited, not put on report before an arm goes around the chest.
"I would have to listen to the audio but I thought the referee thought he had a clear view of it and he called play on."
Reynolds was adamant he didn't take a dive.
"The video will show it - he got me," he said.
"I felt a high hit and it shook me a bit.
"It knocked me around and cut the side of my lip."
