Why hardman Ennis says 'count me in' to Origin
Chris Barrett
May 13, 2011
This No.9 loves Origin footy as the refs let the game - and the physicality - flow, writes Chris Barrett.
>
Michael Ennis pines for the good ol' days - for free-flowing, rugged football when the whistle makes an appearance in a referee's mouth only on the most special of occasions. Which explains his love affair with State of Origin, an exclusive domain in the 21st-century game where penalties remain a rarity and a player who thrives on pushing the boundaries is considerably less accountable.
>
The Canterbury hooker and reigning NSW No.9 enters the final run-in to Origin season having endured a noteworthy past month. There were headlines over a contract clause that could have conceivably seen him walk out on the Bulldogs and join Nathan Tinkler and Wayne Bennett in Newcastle next year if he had chosen. And there was, of course, that fiery encounter with Nathan Hindmarsh at ANZ Stadium when an Ennis verbal assault prompted the usually timid Parramatta captain to go ballistic.
>
Both ended up in the sin bin and Hindmarsh labelled Ennis ''a grub''. In the aftermath of that game, there were questions raised about Ennis's discipline and, with NSW selection approaching, reminders about a crucial late penalty the Blues hooker gave away in game three of last year's interstate series.
Advertisement: Story continues below
>
Yet, as the 27-year-old approaches what appears to be a personal Origin square-off with Dragons hooker Dean Young at Sydney Olympic Park tonight, there is little doubt that, for any of Ennis's faults, he is exactly the brand of player NSW need to combat a seemingly impregnable Queensland.
>
The selection rumour mill would have you believe that both Ennis and Young are already pencilled into Ricky Stuart's squad for Origin I on May 25, a side that will be announced on Sunday. Presumably, Ennis would start, allowing Stuart to use the more versatile Young from the bench. The other candidate, Robbie Farah, looks likely to miss out.
>
Ennis, as genial off the field as he is competitive on it, is not an avid self-promoter and is far from taking selection for granted. But when asked he agrees the way he plays - much like probable NSW teammates Paul Gallen and Greg Bird - suits the rough and tumble that is Origin.
>
''There's no doubt that guys like myself and Gallen and Birdy … we enjoy the physical side of the contest and [we're] pretty competitive guys,'' Ennis said. ''I just think sometimes the referees without doubt go into games pre-conceived. But Origin is a different style of footy. It's known for its physical side of things and played at a much quicker pace. It's almost like the physical side of things is tolerated.
>
''In Origin they seem to put the whistle in the pocket and let the game flow. It's great to play end to end footy without being called up all the time for minor ruck incidents which they're just hammering at the moment, right or wrong. It's how [the NRL] probably should be refereed.''
>
In some ways Ennis was born 15 or 20 years too late. He is frustrated by the tendency for some present-day referees - under the stewardship of coaches Bill Harrigan and Stuart Raper from this year - to blow more penalties than he says need to be awarded. He is quite often on the wrong end of them.
>
''I know when Bill refereed I always watched him and he didn't blow a lot of penalties,'' Ennis said. ''He let the game go. I'm surprised with him being in control of them now why there's so many penalties.''
>
Ennis is a traditionalist in other matters, too. He is an advocate of the bonding session - and not of the horse-riding variety - and says NSW must get the lead-up to each game spot on to upset the Maroons.
>
''I read Matthew Hayden's book and [former Australian cricket coach] Bob Simpson said to him, 'You learn more about blokes over a night having a beer than you do in the five days in the field','' he said. ''And it's true … game three last year, the second night [of the camp] we went and had a big dinner together and we all stayed together and we had a good few beers … we came out and it showed on the field . We were just a real tight group for that whole 10 days. We really should have won that game.
>
''It's just about us getting the right balance and ensuring our preparation is absolutely nailed in Origin. And also really just coming together and having a good time - I think that's a huge part of it. From there I think we're a real shot.''
Chris Barrett
May 13, 2011
This No.9 loves Origin footy as the refs let the game - and the physicality - flow, writes Chris Barrett.
>
Michael Ennis pines for the good ol' days - for free-flowing, rugged football when the whistle makes an appearance in a referee's mouth only on the most special of occasions. Which explains his love affair with State of Origin, an exclusive domain in the 21st-century game where penalties remain a rarity and a player who thrives on pushing the boundaries is considerably less accountable.
>
The Canterbury hooker and reigning NSW No.9 enters the final run-in to Origin season having endured a noteworthy past month. There were headlines over a contract clause that could have conceivably seen him walk out on the Bulldogs and join Nathan Tinkler and Wayne Bennett in Newcastle next year if he had chosen. And there was, of course, that fiery encounter with Nathan Hindmarsh at ANZ Stadium when an Ennis verbal assault prompted the usually timid Parramatta captain to go ballistic.
>
Both ended up in the sin bin and Hindmarsh labelled Ennis ''a grub''. In the aftermath of that game, there were questions raised about Ennis's discipline and, with NSW selection approaching, reminders about a crucial late penalty the Blues hooker gave away in game three of last year's interstate series.
Advertisement: Story continues below
>
Yet, as the 27-year-old approaches what appears to be a personal Origin square-off with Dragons hooker Dean Young at Sydney Olympic Park tonight, there is little doubt that, for any of Ennis's faults, he is exactly the brand of player NSW need to combat a seemingly impregnable Queensland.
>
The selection rumour mill would have you believe that both Ennis and Young are already pencilled into Ricky Stuart's squad for Origin I on May 25, a side that will be announced on Sunday. Presumably, Ennis would start, allowing Stuart to use the more versatile Young from the bench. The other candidate, Robbie Farah, looks likely to miss out.
>
Ennis, as genial off the field as he is competitive on it, is not an avid self-promoter and is far from taking selection for granted. But when asked he agrees the way he plays - much like probable NSW teammates Paul Gallen and Greg Bird - suits the rough and tumble that is Origin.
>
''There's no doubt that guys like myself and Gallen and Birdy … we enjoy the physical side of the contest and [we're] pretty competitive guys,'' Ennis said. ''I just think sometimes the referees without doubt go into games pre-conceived. But Origin is a different style of footy. It's known for its physical side of things and played at a much quicker pace. It's almost like the physical side of things is tolerated.
>
''In Origin they seem to put the whistle in the pocket and let the game flow. It's great to play end to end footy without being called up all the time for minor ruck incidents which they're just hammering at the moment, right or wrong. It's how [the NRL] probably should be refereed.''
>
In some ways Ennis was born 15 or 20 years too late. He is frustrated by the tendency for some present-day referees - under the stewardship of coaches Bill Harrigan and Stuart Raper from this year - to blow more penalties than he says need to be awarded. He is quite often on the wrong end of them.
>
''I know when Bill refereed I always watched him and he didn't blow a lot of penalties,'' Ennis said. ''He let the game go. I'm surprised with him being in control of them now why there's so many penalties.''
>
Ennis is a traditionalist in other matters, too. He is an advocate of the bonding session - and not of the horse-riding variety - and says NSW must get the lead-up to each game spot on to upset the Maroons.
>
''I read Matthew Hayden's book and [former Australian cricket coach] Bob Simpson said to him, 'You learn more about blokes over a night having a beer than you do in the five days in the field','' he said. ''And it's true … game three last year, the second night [of the camp] we went and had a big dinner together and we all stayed together and we had a good few beers … we came out and it showed on the field . We were just a real tight group for that whole 10 days. We really should have won that game.
>
''It's just about us getting the right balance and ensuring our preparation is absolutely nailed in Origin. And also really just coming together and having a good time - I think that's a huge part of it. From there I think we're a real shot.''
