Congratulations to Blake Austin, but he's not the buy of the year

Blake Austin has produced some stunning individual performances for the Canberra Raiders this season, and they have earned him plenty of praise among league commentators as ‘buy of the year’.

His efforts have contributed to some fantastic Raiders wins and seen him endorsed for representative selection with New South Wales.

But while Austin has stood out in the lime green, from a perspective of who added more value to a team, it’s hard to go past Cronulla’s Michael Ennis.

Ennis’ presence has had an effect on the team’s mind frame. His actions are directly influencing others. One of the most consistent hookers this year, Ennis competes on every play. He doesn’t just do his job or go through the motions, there is a real emotional sting in the way he competes. It means something to him. And you can see that rubbing off on the rest of his team.

His position as a leader within the group has allowed Paul Gallen to finally focus on his own game. No longer is Gallen the sole engine trying to pull Cronulla’s carriages out of the valley of mediocracy. In Ennis they have a general, someone at the front and centre of almost every play setting the tone for the rest of the team, much like former Newcastle hooker Danny Buderus.

Sure, Ennis might give away a penalty or two, but that’s the cost of getting on top of the opposition. He walks the line, flirts with the boundaries in order to get that slight edge. It’s all part of Ennis’ strategy.

At the Bulldogs Ennis was captain and therefore his pushing of the boundaries was something less effective. At the Sharks and free of that captaincy weight, he too, like Gallen, can focus on himself. He doesn’t have to worry about pleading with the refs.

For a club on the rebuild, Ennis has been perfect. He is disciplined, confident, determined and sticks to the plan. He trusts the process. He knows rugby league is a simple game and what has to be done to achieve success. He does not look at the past, he moves on – perfect for a club coming out of the most tumultuous years of its history.

He also takes enormous pride in mentoring younger players, sharing his experience with those coming into first-grade football. He helped Josh Reynolds develop from a talented prospect to a rigorous, committed Origin-winning five-eighth; if not with tactical skills, with the demands of week-to-week football.

There’s no secret to why the Sharks are on the edge of the top four. They’ve played hard, found raw and exciting talents in Jack Bird and Valentine Holmes, while players like Luke Lewis and Chris Heighington have benefitted from Ennis’ leadership. Ennis come into the club as a fresh face and free of the past. His attitude said ‘let’s put it all behind us and get on with it’.

You can look at buy of the year as what you got out of a player against their financial cost, or you can look at it as what a club most needed in order to become a better side. Cronulla needed Michael Ennis to move forward, and what a boost his signature has made to a club that was officially on the ropes just twelve months ago. His mature approach far outweighs the loose cannon that was Todd Carney.

Signed with Cronulla until the end of the 2016 season, and with so much talent in their junior stocks, Ennis’ contribution will be invaluable. A guiding figure for those youngsters ready to take the next step, for themselves and for the Sharks, Ennis is a must re-sign for the club beyond his current contract, even if it be as a replacement hooker.

Cronulla’s best opportunity in years is upon them as the head into this year’s finals series and Michael Ennis is at the forefront of that charge. Can the porch-lamp curse finally be broken?