One of Des Hasler's former star pupils Josh Perry is tipping Michael Ennis to play against South Sydney on Sunday and believes the Canterbury coach could be masterminding one of the great NRL grand final smokescreens.
Perry played under Hasler for three years at Manly and was a member of the side that beat Melbourne in the 2008 premiership decider.
The NSW and Test representative said his former boss would be revelling in his side being written off with the Bulldogs, at $3.00, the equal biggest outsiders to win a grand final since the Sydney Roosters in 2000.
Although Ennis arrived at the grand final lunch with his fractured foot in a moonboot and on crutches, Perry said the injury may not be as bad as Hasler and the club are letting on.
"I think they are definitely underdogs, but I am tipping the Bulldogs this week simply because Dessie is there and I know he will have something up his sleeve," Perry told AAP.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Ennis plays.
"If you know Dessie ... just the way he's being on camera, he's being a bit cheeky and I wouldn't be shocked at all if Ennis is in the side come Sunday."
Sunday's decider will be Hasler's fifth grand final in eight years and Perry, who also won the premiership with Newcastle in 2001, said there's no better coach to be at the helm of a side going in to the biggest game of the season.
"He is a father figure and I guarantee every single player in that Bulldogs side will want to go out and play that little bit extra for Dessie," he said.
"That for me makes him special. Not many coaches have got that and I know from my time at Manly everyone felt the same.
"Even if he doesn't win on Sunday he has to go down as one of the great coaches of all time.
"He's been in five of the last eight grand finals and he doesn't get the raps he deserves.
"But that is how he likes it, for him it's all about the team."
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