Moedogg
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By MICHAEL CARAYANNISMichael Lichaa's NRL career was barely minutes old when he told Michael Ennis that he was coming to "take his money" with his high-profile move to replace the Canterbury hooker. Now Lichaa and Ennis will square-off for the first time since their off-season swap at Belmore Oval on Sunday, with Lichaa packing down for the Bulldogs and Ennis at the Sharks.
It will be the first time they have come head to head since Lichaa's comments – which were made in his NRL debut last year. Ennis reportedly told the Belmore-bound Lichaa "you won't be taking my spot", to which the in-demand young rake made his witty retort. Now Lichaa is unsure what his veteran opposite number may have in store for him next.
"I was a bit cocky if I said that," Lichaa said. "He is the last person I'm thinking about. I'm just worried about my job. I don't know [if he will sledge me]. If he does, he does. I don't care about that niggle. It's a bit of a distraction if you get into it."
Lichaa's arrival squeezed Ennis out of the Sharks, with the Bulldogs offering their then skipper only a one-year deal. The pair have crossed paths socially for the first time this season, with Ennis still enjoying a close friendship with a host of Lichaa's current teammates.
"I've met him a few times and had a beer with him one time," Lichaa said. "He is a good bloke. It was sweet. Everyone else thinks it'll be awkward. He is going good at the Sharks and I'm happy at the Bulldogs. Everyone got what they wanted."
Lichaa has moulded himself into an 80-minute hooker. He has brushed aside the natural comparisons to Ennis, which Lichaa – who turned 22 on Saturday – said has not been a distraction.
"He is good player," Lichaa said. "He is a better player than me at the moment. He has played Origin. Hopefully in my future and in the next few years I can get to his level and see where I can go from there.
"It was more the media and the fans that we're going to [compare me with Ennis]. [Coach] Des [Hasler] never brought it up once to me. The boys give it to me here and there. It doesn't bother me. He is going good at the Sharkies and a lot of the game plan is around him. I'm happy for him."
There was much fanfare surrounding Lichaa as he progressed through Cronulla's junior league. NSW under-18 and under-20s spots beckoned, as did a Junior Kangaroos appearance. He made City Origin last year. He fell out of favour with Cronulla officials because of his defection to Canterbury and spent time in the NSW Cup last year as a result, having been dropped by interim coach Peter Sharp.
Lichaa, who has played every top-grade game for the Bulldogs this season, admitted the ongoing uncertainty surrounding ASADA's investigation into the Sharks also played a part in his departure.
"Whatever happened, happened," Lichaa said. "You can't go back now. Sharpy is a good bloke. It was probably out of his control.
"I was happy I was coming to the Bulldogs. It was a hard year with everything that was going on at the club. Obviously not knowing where the club was going, it was hard to commit there and I'm happy for them they got out of all the stuff they were in. It's the best decision I've made in my life.
"I wanted to be coached by Des. It was the toughest pre-season I've ever done but I knew I needed that. I knew the Bulldogs were pretty structured and I wouldn't be able to run when I wanted to but that would come over the next few years. I knew I would learn the tough stuff I needed to learn in defence."
The match will be Canterbury's second at Belmore Oval this year, having hosted Melbourne in round 16.
http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/cr...ichael-ennis-20150719-gif94s?skin=smart-phone
I doubt we will see him become an Issac Luke/Segeyaro type hooker where he runs from dummy half at will. Des will probably turn him into a Matt Ballin type rake, where he just supplies quality service from dummy half and makes a hell lot of tackles but restricted from running the ball. Maybe Des sees running from dummy half as a low percentage and a waste of a tackle. If you look at highlights of Ennis pre Des he played alot different and was dangerous from dummy half.
It will be the first time they have come head to head since Lichaa's comments – which were made in his NRL debut last year. Ennis reportedly told the Belmore-bound Lichaa "you won't be taking my spot", to which the in-demand young rake made his witty retort. Now Lichaa is unsure what his veteran opposite number may have in store for him next.
"I was a bit cocky if I said that," Lichaa said. "He is the last person I'm thinking about. I'm just worried about my job. I don't know [if he will sledge me]. If he does, he does. I don't care about that niggle. It's a bit of a distraction if you get into it."
Lichaa's arrival squeezed Ennis out of the Sharks, with the Bulldogs offering their then skipper only a one-year deal. The pair have crossed paths socially for the first time this season, with Ennis still enjoying a close friendship with a host of Lichaa's current teammates.
"I've met him a few times and had a beer with him one time," Lichaa said. "He is a good bloke. It was sweet. Everyone else thinks it'll be awkward. He is going good at the Sharks and I'm happy at the Bulldogs. Everyone got what they wanted."
Lichaa has moulded himself into an 80-minute hooker. He has brushed aside the natural comparisons to Ennis, which Lichaa – who turned 22 on Saturday – said has not been a distraction.
"He is good player," Lichaa said. "He is a better player than me at the moment. He has played Origin. Hopefully in my future and in the next few years I can get to his level and see where I can go from there.
"It was more the media and the fans that we're going to [compare me with Ennis]. [Coach] Des [Hasler] never brought it up once to me. The boys give it to me here and there. It doesn't bother me. He is going good at the Sharkies and a lot of the game plan is around him. I'm happy for him."
There was much fanfare surrounding Lichaa as he progressed through Cronulla's junior league. NSW under-18 and under-20s spots beckoned, as did a Junior Kangaroos appearance. He made City Origin last year. He fell out of favour with Cronulla officials because of his defection to Canterbury and spent time in the NSW Cup last year as a result, having been dropped by interim coach Peter Sharp.
Lichaa, who has played every top-grade game for the Bulldogs this season, admitted the ongoing uncertainty surrounding ASADA's investigation into the Sharks also played a part in his departure.
"Whatever happened, happened," Lichaa said. "You can't go back now. Sharpy is a good bloke. It was probably out of his control.
"I was happy I was coming to the Bulldogs. It was a hard year with everything that was going on at the club. Obviously not knowing where the club was going, it was hard to commit there and I'm happy for them they got out of all the stuff they were in. It's the best decision I've made in my life.
"I wanted to be coached by Des. It was the toughest pre-season I've ever done but I knew I needed that. I knew the Bulldogs were pretty structured and I wouldn't be able to run when I wanted to but that would come over the next few years. I knew I would learn the tough stuff I needed to learn in defence."
The match will be Canterbury's second at Belmore Oval this year, having hosted Melbourne in round 16.
http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/cr...ichael-ennis-20150719-gif94s?skin=smart-phone
I doubt we will see him become an Issac Luke/Segeyaro type hooker where he runs from dummy half at will. Des will probably turn him into a Matt Ballin type rake, where he just supplies quality service from dummy half and makes a hell lot of tackles but restricted from running the ball. Maybe Des sees running from dummy half as a low percentage and a waste of a tackle. If you look at highlights of Ennis pre Des he played alot different and was dangerous from dummy half.
