GrogDog
bad attitude
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Canterbury recruit Michael Lichaa knows the inevitable question is coming about the man he was brought in to replace in the No.9 jersey. The comparisons have followed him since he announced he would join the Bulldogs from Cronulla. Now settled into his new colours, Lichaa has a point to prove.
"I'm training as hard as I can to make sure the next three years I can be at a level where I don't need to be compared to Michael Ennis and [people talk about] my game," he said.
As fate would have it, Ennis opted to join Lichaa's former club Cronulla on a two-year deal instead of taking up Canterbury's one-season option. Their round 20 encounter next year is already highly anticipated after the two engaged in a slanging match when they crossed paths earlier this year. Despite being 21, Lichaa is unnerved by the prospect of replacing the ex-Bulldogs skipper.
"That's what everyone wants to ask me about or they tell me there's big shoes to fill," Lichaa said. "I'm not focused on that. [The Bulldogs] bought me and I didn't sign here knowing that Mick was not going to be here. That pressure is not on me. I didn't make that decision, that was [coach] Des [Hasler's] choice. He is a good player and I respect him massively. I don't know him off the field at all and everyone says he is a good bloke. I respect him but I'm not trying to be Michael Ennis.
"The hard part about leaving the Sharks was all my good mates were there. It was easy in the fact that when I weighed up my options, a three-year deal under Des was something that was easy to persuade me. When I first met him, he told me I'm a good player but the way they will train will benefit me. He is 100 per cent right. Last year was a hard one at the Sharks with everything that went on. The intensity wasn't there at training and my fitness wasn't right."
While Lichaa may only be 15 games into his NRL career, he has his sights set on becoming an 80-minute player. He has also shed five kilograms as he battles with Damien Cook and Moses Mbye for the starting hooking role.
"The first four to five rounds if I'm in the team, will be difficult but that's for everyone," Lichaa said. "I know when Des coached at Manly and most of the time here there has only been one nine. The forwards we have, it would be hard to leave someone out because I'm not fit enough to play 80 minutes. That would be selfish on my part. I know I need to do the work for the team."
Lichaa grabbed a City origin jersey last season, having had a decorated junior career that included NSW under-18 and 20 selections plus a Junior Kangaroos spot. He said he is relishing a tough pre-season campaign.
"There's no getting away with anything," Lichaa said. "If you're in the gym you have heart rate monitors on so you know where you're at and how hard you're pushing yourself. Des is always looking for you to improve every week. I'm feeling much fitter. The culture is great. When we're training, there are no favourites. It doesn't matter if you've played 200 games or 20 games or coming up from 20s. If you make a mistake, Des will treat you the same no matter who you are. Everyone knows where they stand."
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...ying-to-be-michael-ennis-20141218-129zck.html
"I'm training as hard as I can to make sure the next three years I can be at a level where I don't need to be compared to Michael Ennis and [people talk about] my game," he said.
As fate would have it, Ennis opted to join Lichaa's former club Cronulla on a two-year deal instead of taking up Canterbury's one-season option. Their round 20 encounter next year is already highly anticipated after the two engaged in a slanging match when they crossed paths earlier this year. Despite being 21, Lichaa is unnerved by the prospect of replacing the ex-Bulldogs skipper.
"That's what everyone wants to ask me about or they tell me there's big shoes to fill," Lichaa said. "I'm not focused on that. [The Bulldogs] bought me and I didn't sign here knowing that Mick was not going to be here. That pressure is not on me. I didn't make that decision, that was [coach] Des [Hasler's] choice. He is a good player and I respect him massively. I don't know him off the field at all and everyone says he is a good bloke. I respect him but I'm not trying to be Michael Ennis.
"The hard part about leaving the Sharks was all my good mates were there. It was easy in the fact that when I weighed up my options, a three-year deal under Des was something that was easy to persuade me. When I first met him, he told me I'm a good player but the way they will train will benefit me. He is 100 per cent right. Last year was a hard one at the Sharks with everything that went on. The intensity wasn't there at training and my fitness wasn't right."
While Lichaa may only be 15 games into his NRL career, he has his sights set on becoming an 80-minute player. He has also shed five kilograms as he battles with Damien Cook and Moses Mbye for the starting hooking role.
"The first four to five rounds if I'm in the team, will be difficult but that's for everyone," Lichaa said. "I know when Des coached at Manly and most of the time here there has only been one nine. The forwards we have, it would be hard to leave someone out because I'm not fit enough to play 80 minutes. That would be selfish on my part. I know I need to do the work for the team."
Lichaa grabbed a City origin jersey last season, having had a decorated junior career that included NSW under-18 and 20 selections plus a Junior Kangaroos spot. He said he is relishing a tough pre-season campaign.
"There's no getting away with anything," Lichaa said. "If you're in the gym you have heart rate monitors on so you know where you're at and how hard you're pushing yourself. Des is always looking for you to improve every week. I'm feeling much fitter. The culture is great. When we're training, there are no favourites. It doesn't matter if you've played 200 games or 20 games or coming up from 20s. If you make a mistake, Des will treat you the same no matter who you are. Everyone knows where they stand."
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...ying-to-be-michael-ennis-20141218-129zck.html
