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Source: The Australian
Date: 21st July 2015
Author: Margie McDonald
James Graham is not looking forward to having to tackle his best friend Michael Ennis on Sunday at Belmore Sports Ground.
But he will be asking Ennis for a lift to the ground. “We used to car pool for most of last year,” Graham said, as he and Ennis live 100m from each other. “So I’ll ask if he fancies giving me a ride.”
It will be strange for Graham and Ennis — teammates for the past three seasons — to be on opposite sides in Canterbury’s home match against Cronulla.
Graham played 72 games for the Bulldogs until the end of last year and 71 of those were alongside Ennis. The other game was the grand final against South Sydney, which Ennis had to miss due to a serious ankle injury.
It was a severe disappointment on several fronts as that was to be Ennis’s last game for the Dogs after six years. He took up a two-year deal with the Sharks this year.
This is the first time the clubs have met in 2015 but it’s not the first time Graham and Ennis have played against each other.
“We played against each other in a World Club Challenge back in 2007,” Graham said, referring to St Helens’ 18-14 win over the Brisbane Broncos. “It’s funny that we turned up together at the Bulldogs. It’s not so surprising we became great mates. I have to drive past his house to get to mine.”
But tackling Ennis in anger is causing Graham a little anxiety.
“I don’t know how I’ll feel. It’s going to be strange but we’ll still be friends after that 80 minutes.
“During the 80 minutes I have to do my job. I can’t let anyone past me. Mick is playing for Cronulla so he won’t be doing any favours for me either. He’s such a quality player and it’s still sad to me that he had to leave. But unfortunately that’s a part of the game these days.”
The match is part of the Bulldogs’ 80th birthday celebrations. The Belmore training ground and sheds will be very familiar to Ennis.
“I spoke to him the other day and he’s looking forward to it,” Graham said. “On a personal note as much as he would have loved to play for the Bulldogs at Belmore he gets that chance to come back.
“I think it’s good that our fans will pay their respects to him as well. He missed that last game for us in such tragic circumstances.”
There will be no jeers from the Dogs faithful for Ennis, a former club captain.
“He’ll get a fantastic reception,” Graham said. “He will always be in the Bulldogs fans’ hearts forever.”
Date: 21st July 2015
Author: Margie McDonald
James Graham is not looking forward to having to tackle his best friend Michael Ennis on Sunday at Belmore Sports Ground.
But he will be asking Ennis for a lift to the ground. “We used to car pool for most of last year,” Graham said, as he and Ennis live 100m from each other. “So I’ll ask if he fancies giving me a ride.”
It will be strange for Graham and Ennis — teammates for the past three seasons — to be on opposite sides in Canterbury’s home match against Cronulla.
Graham played 72 games for the Bulldogs until the end of last year and 71 of those were alongside Ennis. The other game was the grand final against South Sydney, which Ennis had to miss due to a serious ankle injury.
It was a severe disappointment on several fronts as that was to be Ennis’s last game for the Dogs after six years. He took up a two-year deal with the Sharks this year.
This is the first time the clubs have met in 2015 but it’s not the first time Graham and Ennis have played against each other.
“We played against each other in a World Club Challenge back in 2007,” Graham said, referring to St Helens’ 18-14 win over the Brisbane Broncos. “It’s funny that we turned up together at the Bulldogs. It’s not so surprising we became great mates. I have to drive past his house to get to mine.”
But tackling Ennis in anger is causing Graham a little anxiety.
“I don’t know how I’ll feel. It’s going to be strange but we’ll still be friends after that 80 minutes.
“During the 80 minutes I have to do my job. I can’t let anyone past me. Mick is playing for Cronulla so he won’t be doing any favours for me either. He’s such a quality player and it’s still sad to me that he had to leave. But unfortunately that’s a part of the game these days.”
The match is part of the Bulldogs’ 80th birthday celebrations. The Belmore training ground and sheds will be very familiar to Ennis.
“I spoke to him the other day and he’s looking forward to it,” Graham said. “On a personal note as much as he would have loved to play for the Bulldogs at Belmore he gets that chance to come back.
“I think it’s good that our fans will pay their respects to him as well. He missed that last game for us in such tragic circumstances.”
There will be no jeers from the Dogs faithful for Ennis, a former club captain.
“He’ll get a fantastic reception,” Graham said. “He will always be in the Bulldogs fans’ hearts forever.”
