Michael Ennis in his usual position at the centre of a brawl during NRL Round 5, Bulldogs v Rabbitohs at Sydney Olympic Stadium, Monday, April 13, 2009. AAP Image/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan
With his team 14-6 up after 65 minutes at an ANZ Stadium that was resembling the adjacent Aquatic Centre more and more as the game wore on, it looked for all money that Michael Ennis had secured victory for the Bulldogs.
Four Rabbitohs tried in vain to keep a firm grip on the rain soaked rake, until he finally hit the deck, with the ball appearing to touch the turf.
But his opposite, Isaac Luke, managed to squeeze an arm in close enough to the ball to force Ashley Klein to send the decision upstairs to Sean Hampstead.
Initial replays showed Ennis had indeed done enough to warrant the four points for his team. All that remained was the mere formality of Hampstead flicking the green light switch. But he didn’t.
Instead, Hampstead rewound back to the moment right after Ennis had picked the ball up from dummy half and was attempting to barge over but for those four Rabbitohs that had him held up directly over the try line.
Then Bulldogs prop Michael Hodgson jumped into the shot and gave his mate a hand by pushing the Souths defenders back into their in-goal in the manner of a rudimentary rolling maul.
“No try,” said Hampstead, and the Bunnies got a relieving penalty, ultimately setting up an exciting finish by managing to hold onto the ball long enough to score another try.
Bulldogs captain Andrew Ryan looked as bemused as Laurie Daley sounded in the Fox Sports commentary booth, when he had the decision explained to him.
Hampstead may just have set a precedent with his decision.
Just how many times in a match do we see players rush to push their team mates in a more desirable direction? Fullbacks headed back into their own in goal, wingers dangerously close to touchlines and even the big men whose hit ups have gone awry.
Are officials now going to be keeping a keen eye out to make sure any helpful pushing is done in the right manner?
If they do rule it out, at least we’ll get to see a few more players bundled into touch without a soft penalty being conceded by the tacklers.
Let’s just hope it doesn’t get out of control.
Even if he was denied a try, Ennis had another influential game and if the opinion of Benny Elias, self-appointed selector of the NSW hooker role, is anything to go by, he’s looking good for a Blues jumper this year.
The fact that Elias has spoken of Ennis in preference to Robbie Farah, whom he has publicly supported in the past, speaks volumes of his form this season.
He mightn’t have got the four points, but there could be a bigger prize waiting for him come June.
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