| Personal information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Ennis the Menace | |||||
| Born | 16 March 1984 Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Height | 179 cm (70 in) | |||||
| Weight | 87 kg (13 st 10 lb) [1] | |||||
| Playing information | ||||||
| Position | Hooker, Halfback | |||||
| Club | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 2003–2004 | Newcastle Knights | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2005 | St. George Illawarra | 24 | 5 | 44 | 0 | 108 |
| 2006–2008 | Brisbane Broncos | 42 | 8 | 63 | 0 | 158 |
| 2009– | Bulldogs | 58 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 34 |
| Total | 144 | 23 | 108 | 0 | 308 | |
| Representative | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 2009–2010 | Country Origin | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009–2010 | New South Wales | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| As of 30 March 2010 | ||||||
| Source: NRL Stats | ||||||
Michael Ennis (born 16 March 1984 in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League. A New South Wales State of Origin representative hooker, he previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, St George Illawarra Dragons and the Newcastle Knights. He is well known as being a 'niggler' when playing.[2][3]
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Ennis' first season at the Broncos, in 2006, was cut short by a knee injury suffered in round 5 against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium. While changing direction, Ennis snapped his anterior cruciate ligament and required a full knee reconstruction. Ennis missed the rest of the season, and subsequently, the premiership win in October.
In 2007, Ennis made a return to first grade but was forced to work for his place in the side as a result of the good form of Shaun Berrigan at hooker. After some appearances from the interchange bench earlier in the season, Ennis was trialled at halfback during the final stages of Brisbane's round 10 loss to the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. He was retained in this position in the ensuing games with some success.
2008 saw Ennis reach the best form of his time at the Broncos. With stiff competition from high profile recruit PJ Marsh, Ennis cemented a spot as the starting hooker and guided the Broncos to some impressive early victories.
In June 2008, Ennis signed a three year deal to join the Bulldogs in 2009, joining a list of players to leave the Broncos. This was to be his 4th NRL club at 24 years of age.
Ennis joined the Bulldogs from the Broncos for the 2009 season.[4]
He was selected for Country in the City vs Country match on 8 May 2009.[5]
Ennis made his State of Origin debut for New South Wales in Game III of the 2009 series, replacing bitter rival Robbie Farah who was dropped. Ennis made an impact in his first game as the Blues won a dead rubber match, 28-16 with Ennis landing three goals from three attempts.
He filled the full-time goal-kicking role at the Bulldogs in 2010, replacing Hazem El Masri, who retired in 2009. However, he was replaced by Bryson Goodwin after a couple of games due to his poor goal-kicking ability.
Ennis played in all three games in 2010, all resulting in losses. In the third match, Ennis was blamed by some for costing NSW victory when he gave away a penalty by punching Queensland's Nate Myles with six minutes to go (NSW at the time were leading 18-13). There have since been calls for Ennis not to play for New South Wales ever again[6], but, despite this, he was selected for all three games the following series, also lost.
In the 3 year period from the start of 2008 season, Ennis was penalised in games 58 times, the 2nd most of any player in the NRL behind Anthony Watmough.[7]
In February, 2011, Michael signed a new 3 year contract with Canterbury.[8]
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