Michael Ennis blasts Bulldogs’ recruitment and says Josh Reynolds can ‘save their season’
Michael Ennis has launched a passionate attack on the Bulldogs’ recruitment in recent times and called on the club to bring favourite son Josh Reynolds back to Belmore.
Money looks set to be a stumbling block in bringing Reynolds home to Canterbury, but Ennis believes he never should have been let go.
This highlights a huge problem for the Bulldogs and that is they have just taken their eye off the ball when it comes to recruitment,” Ennis said on Fox League Live.
“The stuff about Josh Reynolds really frustrates me because I love the thought of Reynolds not only for the romantic return that rugby league would love, but it would be an enormous shot in the arm to have their favourite son come home.
“At a time when their coach is off contract and there is a lot of speculation around that and a lot of indecision form the club.
To bring someone home like Reynolds that took them to two grand finals and won an Origin series. That in 14 games averaging just 36 minutes a game for the Wests Tigers has created six try assists and had three tries and numerous amounts of repeat sets of six.
“And the fact that it would only be short-term to get them through this period is an absolute no-brainer for me.”
Ennis said the Bulldogs are lacking in experience in the playmaking stocks and said if Kieran Foran can successfully return from injury then Reynolds is the man to help unlock their attack.
“Where Foran is at with his career he loves to play direct and control the game and the unpredictability of Reynolds could be what saves the Bulldogs’ season,” Ennis said.
“They will not get any better with what they are doing at the moment.
When you turn up to training and you see your halves sometimes you don’t really know where other clubs are at. You don’t see the standard that other people are training at. What other level they are at.
“The Bulldogs at the moment are comfortable with Brandon Wakeham, who is only a young kid I don’t want to be too tough on him because I’ve liked some of the stuff that he has done and I’ve like defensively what Lachlan Lewis has done.
But they are not going to be a top four side with that halves pairing.”
Ennis believes the Bulldogs have to have an experienced halves pairing to end the Bulldogs’ finals drought this season.
“Kieran Foran they can’t get him back quick enough, but they really need to invest in Josh Reynolds,” Ennis said.
“It is 18 months with this short season and if ever you need someone like Josh Reynolds it is this season.
“I was really frustrated with the Bulldogs for a period of time with some of the decisions that were made.
“It was because I saw players like James Graham, Josh Reynolds and Dale Finucane be allowed to walk out the door. I don’t think I need to say anything else.”