Michael Ennis’s shove of Matt Moylan showed disrespect to the young Panther

MICHAEL Ennis needs to grow up. He is 32. Off the field, they keep telling us, Ennis is a great bloke but on the field he is a goose.

Off the field, they keep telling us, Michael Ennis is a great bloke.

MICHAEL Ennis needs to grow up. He is 32. Off the field, they keep telling us, Ennis is a great bloke.

Is it just me or are you sick of hearing it too?

Because on the field he remains a goose. Or a pest, a grub, a mug, take your pick.

What he did last week to Matt Moylan was more deserving of a charge by the NRL’s match review committee than any incident coming out of round eight.

Moylan is a young man who shows all the class on the field that Ennis continually lacks.

Last Sunday the Penrith fullback ran a brave line when he was absolutely poleaxed by Luke Lewis in a legitimate tackle that was labelled the hit of the season.

To his credit Moylan jumped to his feet and showed no frustration as he attempted to secure Lewis in the tackle.

Then, from a good 10 metres away, Ennis ran over and shoved his unsuspecting opponent in the back to rub it in.

And he sniggered as players from both teams charged in. The referee, to his credit, penalised Ennis for instigating the melee.

Instead of Lewis’s tackle winning possession for Cronulla, the Panthers got another shot attacking Cronulla’s tryline.

It was not only a dumb play, it was disrespectful. For too long now Ennis has been getting away with these tactics.

He claims he means no disrespect.

Sooner or later it will sink in, actions speak louder than words. At the moment Ennis appears to be making a good fist of becoming a commentator on Fox Sports with his insightful knowledge of the game.

But it is getting to the point where you can no longer listen to his Mr Nice Guy facade when you continue to witness events like last Sunday.

Originally published as Michael Ennis’s shove of Matt Moylan showed disrespect to the young Panther