Ennis not interested in NRL medal

Injured Bulldogs captain Michael Ennis says he wouldn't be interested in getting someone else's NRL medal if the Bulldogs win Sunday's grand final.

Canterbury NRL player Michael Ennis arrives for a press conference

Injured Canterbury star Michael Ennis says he's highly unlikely to play in Sunday's NRL grand final. (AAP)

No fuss Bulldogs captain Michael Ennis doesn't want any of his teammates to hand him their ring if they win the NRL grand final without him, despite a precedent at the club.

The feisty hooker said on Tuesday he needed a miracle to play the season decider against South Sydney on Sunday after suffering two foot fractures against Penrith last weekend.

The grand final represents Ennis's last chance to win a title with the Bulldogs as he will play for Cronulla next year.

Ten years ago, Bulldogs captain and forward leader Steve Price missed out on the 2004 grand final with a knee injury.

A then 21-year-old Johnathan Thurston, who came off the bench, gave his winner's medal to Price, who was leaving the Bulldogs' kennel to join the Warriors after 11 seasons with the Sydney club.

Ennis wouldn't countenance an act of similar generosity and sacrifice similar to Thurston's, if one of his teammates makes a similar offer to him on Sunday should the Bulldogs win and he doesn't play.

"No, not at all," Ennis said on Tuesday.

"I'm happy for the boys, I know how hard they've worked.

"Obviously (coach) Des (Hasler) and the staff and the players were extremely disappointed with what we came up with last season and where we finished and the way we went out against Newcastle in that first (finals) game.

"We came back that first week in November and we've trained extremely hard here and I'm just so rapt my teammates are getting their reward to play in the grand final on the back of it.

"I don't expect anything out of it on Sunday to be honest."

Ennis won't sit in the coach's box if he is ruled out of the game, but will assist in any way he can in the days leading up to the match.

"I said to Des I'm on hand and foot for whatever they need," Ennis said.

"I'll do as much media as I can and do as many things like that, to take the focus off the boys and let them concentrate on their preparation.

"I'll work hard at the back end with whoever's going to take my place, if that's the case."

Ennis praised Hasler for his support since getting injured, but suspected time would beat him and he had already played his final game for the club.

"Des has been terrific through the last 48 hours, I've faced some challenges in footy and this certainly has been one of the toughest ones I've had to come to grips with," Ennis said.

"I think he'll give me every opportunity, but we're both not naive as well and we know that it's all but gone."


Share

3 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world