Reynolds needs to consider change: Ennis

Bulldogs playmaker Josh Reynolds needs to reconsider his tackling style as the Blues playmaker returns from a three-week shoulder charge ban.

Bulldogs NRL playmaker Josh Reynolds

Bulldogs playmaker Josh Reynolds will return from a three-week NRL ban against Penrith on Friday. (AAP)

Canterbury captain Michael Ennis believes Josh Reynolds has to reconsider his tackling style with the NSW playmaker to return from a three-game shoulder charge suspension for Friday's crunch NRL clash with Penrith.

Reynolds was outed for a hit on Queensland winger Will Chambers in State of Origin III, after earlier having a two-match ban for a dangerous throw on Brent Tate in the interstate opener reduced to no time on the sideline at the judiciary.

The Bulldogs beat Melbourne, but have dropped successive games to Wests Tigers and North Queensland in Reynolds' absence.

But Ennis doesn't want Reynolds to change his trademark aggressive approach.

"You need to be careful with trying to change a bloke's style," Ennis said on Tuesday.

"What Josh brings to a footy side in terms of his competitive nature, his physical attributes that he brings in terms of his aggression, it is a huge part of his game

"No doubt with some rule changes we have seen over the past 18 months, you probably just need to be a little wary of those.

"Unfortunately he has missed three games on the back of the shoulder charge but I certainly wouldn't want Josh to change the way he approaches a football game that is for sure.

"There is no doubt Josh probably just needs, with the way the game is evolving, everyone needs to look at the way they tackle from time to time."

Bulldogs back-rower Tony Williams concurred.

"Josh is a player who plays on confidence, that is what we need from a player like him, it boosts the team every time we see that," Williams said.

"I reckon it is a good thing, I guess he maybe has to watch a few things but we love that in him."

Blues centre Josh Morris could finally return to the Canterbury side, after sustaining a knee injury in Origin I.

But Ennis said he remains a 50/50 proposition.

"He is week-to-week at moment," Ennis said.

"He is progressing well and fingers crossed we can get him back to the team too, he obviously picked up that injury through the Origin period, so we haven't had him in the team for a little while

"His form in that early middle part of the year was outstanding so he will be a welcome bonus too when we can get him back on the field.

"To be honest, the break has probably done him the world of good."


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