jimmy_the_greek
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Canterbury captain Michael Ennis has urged the club to make a play for Parramatta full-back Jarryd Hayne as the Bulldogs look to fill the void left by Ben Barba's departure.
Hayne still has two years to run on his deal at the Eels but the Bulldogs are reportedly preparing to make an audacious bid to lure the representative star to the club next season.
The 25-year-old was linked with a move to the Bulldogs mid-season, however Eels coach Ricky Stuart's decision to walk out on the Eels last week has re-ignited speculation Hayne wants out of Parramatta.
"I didn't obviously see any of the media yesterday until late last night and I saw that our name was mentioned next to Jarryd," Ennis told reporters at the Bulldogs' Mad Monday celebrations.
"Look he's a terrific player and obviously we've lost a very good full-back and I'm not sure what Jarryd's contract situation is at Parramatta.
"But if he was to come to the Bulldogs then we've all seen what he's done on the big stage many times, especially at Origin level and through that finals series in 2009.
"So a player of his calibre would be welcomed in the number one, that's for sure."
Ennis insisted Barba was leaving the club to join the Broncos with the blessing of the entire Bulldogs playing group, despite an admission from the man himself that several of his team-mates stopped talking to him several months ago.
"He shared some wonderful moments in the Canterbury jersey and he was devastated yesterday not to be able to continue the run through the finals series as we all were," Ennis said of Barba.
"As I've said from a couple of weeks back, this whole playing group and everyone that's been involved with him at Canterbury wish him well at Brisbane and hopefully he doesn't play too well when he plays against us."
The reigning Dally M Medalist, who re-injured his ankle in the first half of Saturday's 22-6 loss to Newcastle, was present at the club's Mad Monday festivities in Sydney's south west.
There was no sign of a repeat of last year's booze-fuelled celebration following their grand final loss to Melbourne, which included a female television reporter allegedly being verbally abused by players.
A sombre Ennis was clearly still coming to terms with his side's premature exit from the finals series.
"It's been an indifferent season," he said.
"We obviously missed some key guys through suspension and injury early in the season and then we really started to find our feet through that middle part.
"Then obviously the back end of the season, losing Sam (Kasiano) and Greg Eastwood and Ben Barba and obviously Frank (Pritchard) for a couple of weeks through suspension didn't help.
"I thought through all the adversity to finish sixth we gave ourselves a real opportunity yesterday with a full-strength side but we just weren't able to capitalise and it was disappointing.
http://www.sportal.com.au/league/news/nrl-premiership/ennis-wants-hayne-at-the-bulldogs-252478
Hayne still has two years to run on his deal at the Eels but the Bulldogs are reportedly preparing to make an audacious bid to lure the representative star to the club next season.
The 25-year-old was linked with a move to the Bulldogs mid-season, however Eels coach Ricky Stuart's decision to walk out on the Eels last week has re-ignited speculation Hayne wants out of Parramatta.
"I didn't obviously see any of the media yesterday until late last night and I saw that our name was mentioned next to Jarryd," Ennis told reporters at the Bulldogs' Mad Monday celebrations.
"Look he's a terrific player and obviously we've lost a very good full-back and I'm not sure what Jarryd's contract situation is at Parramatta.
"But if he was to come to the Bulldogs then we've all seen what he's done on the big stage many times, especially at Origin level and through that finals series in 2009.
"So a player of his calibre would be welcomed in the number one, that's for sure."
Ennis insisted Barba was leaving the club to join the Broncos with the blessing of the entire Bulldogs playing group, despite an admission from the man himself that several of his team-mates stopped talking to him several months ago.
"He shared some wonderful moments in the Canterbury jersey and he was devastated yesterday not to be able to continue the run through the finals series as we all were," Ennis said of Barba.
"As I've said from a couple of weeks back, this whole playing group and everyone that's been involved with him at Canterbury wish him well at Brisbane and hopefully he doesn't play too well when he plays against us."
The reigning Dally M Medalist, who re-injured his ankle in the first half of Saturday's 22-6 loss to Newcastle, was present at the club's Mad Monday festivities in Sydney's south west.
There was no sign of a repeat of last year's booze-fuelled celebration following their grand final loss to Melbourne, which included a female television reporter allegedly being verbally abused by players.
A sombre Ennis was clearly still coming to terms with his side's premature exit from the finals series.
"It's been an indifferent season," he said.
"We obviously missed some key guys through suspension and injury early in the season and then we really started to find our feet through that middle part.
"Then obviously the back end of the season, losing Sam (Kasiano) and Greg Eastwood and Ben Barba and obviously Frank (Pritchard) for a couple of weeks through suspension didn't help.
"I thought through all the adversity to finish sixth we gave ourselves a real opportunity yesterday with a full-strength side but we just weren't able to capitalise and it was disappointing.
http://www.sportal.com.au/league/news/nrl-premiership/ennis-wants-hayne-at-the-bulldogs-252478
