Canterbury Bulldogs skipper Michael Ennis and Gold Coast Titans star Greg Bird happy to see shoulder charge remain

CANTERBURY captain Michael Ennis and Gold Coast Titans star Greg Bird both say they would be happy to see the shoulder charge remain in the NRL.

CANTERBURY captain Michael Ennis and Gold Coast Titans star Greg Bird both say they would be happy to see the shoulder charge remain in the NRL.

There have been renewed calls for league to follow the lead of rugby and outlaw the tactic following Greg Inglis' shot on St George Illawarra's Dean Young that left him badly concussed on Saturday night.

However, Ennis said he would be happy to see the shoulder charge stay in the game while acknowledging the argument for banning it.

"It's been a bit unfortunate this year that some of them have been focused on with the head contact that has come into it," Ennis said today.

"I am sure fans like to see collisions on the footy field and they are not always shoulder charges. But to be honest, it's not a real issue for me."

Ennis did concede that seeing players suffer injuries due to blows to the head is not a good look for the game, but said the physical contact is an important aspect of the sport.

"You never like to see anyone go off with any sort of injury, but it's part of the game. It's been around for many years," he said.

"It's a contact sport and things can go wrong.

"In all my years of footy I have never seen a player practise the shoulder charge in training."

Titans and NSW State of Origin star Greg Bird also came out in support of the shoulder charge today, saying it was part of what made rugby league such a tough game.

"That's why rugby league is one of the toughest games to play because you go out every week and you're at risk of getting hurt,''  Bird said today.

"I don't think that (shoulder charge) should be taken out of the game, they're entertaining and they put bums on seats.''

"The people dishing out those hits are copping a couple of weeks (suspension) for it,'' said Bird.

"Sooner or later coaches will tell their players not to do do it.

"But that's what separates us from rugby union and AFL -- the big contact and big collisions.

"I definitely don't want to see it out of the game.''

Teammate Mark Minichiello shared Bird's views.

"Whenever two big men come together you're going to get that contact,'' he said.

"The guys know it's going to happen but I don't think players go onto the field thinking about shoulder charges, that's for sure.

"We don't want to go soft, we need to keep our game tough that's the way everyone likes it.''

Minichiello, who'll oppose brother Anthony on Friday night when the Titans play the Roosters, said Bird's anticipated return from a pectoral injury would add some much-needed aggression to the side.

Bird, Nate Myles (sternum) and lock Ashley Harrison (broken toe) will all be assessed on Thursday.