“Know your enemy and know yourself and you will always be victorious” – Sun Tzu.
Way back in the fifth century BC, the author of The Art Of War espoused the vital importance of understanding your enemy and their strategies in achieving victory in war. Two-and-a-half millennia later, the Chinese general’s handbook on war is still an essential text for any student of armed conflict.
While a game of rugby league is far removed from actual warfare, there is no question that the team that knows their opponent’s strategies and how to counter them is far more likely to win.
Know your enemy.
However, a team’s knowledge must also include identifying where they are themselves deficient and working to address that inadequacy.
Know yourself.
That Michael Ennis has been engaged as a consultant by the Canberra Raiders shows Ricky Stuart has been studying his Sun Tzu. Stuart needs his troops to learn their enemy’s successful tactics and skills.
And the Raiders have never had a bigger enemy than Ennis.
Back at the end of 2014, Stuart tried to sign Ennis to a two-year deal with the Raiders but Ennis would only come if it was three.
The Raiders then instead signed the then-little-known Englishman Josh Hodgson in a sliding doors moment that none at the club will ever regret.
(AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
However, regardless of how superb Hodgson is and has been, clearly there is still something missing at the Raiders. Their eight losses by four points or fewer in 2018 showed a clear trend in not being able to close out games. Furthermore, they gave up winning leads a number of times.
It wasn’t just because they lost a player to injury just about every game – or that they were carrying two behemoth props who became defensive liabilities after just 20 minutes and who couldn’t play more than 40 – meaning that they fell away late in games. The Raiders lacked composure. They lacked mongrel and cunning.
Ennis brings with him his superb knowledge of game management tactics. He was about as good as it got in regard to controlling the pace of the game and putting his opponents off their plans. He brings mongrel and cunning.
During his career, the boy from Coffs Harbour did what it took to win and he gave no deference or respect to anyone.
In 2016, his skill set brought the Green Machine unstuck a number of times.
After the Raiders’ home loss to the Sharks in Round 7, I wrote this of Ennis’ game:
“While watching Michael Ennis play his low rent, grubby game last Sunday against the Raiders it suddenly dawned on me.
“Michael Ennis is actually a genius.
“He knows what wins and loses a football game. Further, he realises what you can get away with and what you can’t.”
However, there is no question that what made Ennis public enemy number one with Raiders fans was his mocking of the Viking Clap following the Shark’s semi-final victory over the Raiders at GIO Stadium that same year.
Upset after the semi-final loss, Stuart gave it to Ennis with both barrels:
“To have to sit there and watch him rub our fans’ noses in it after the game was disrespectful and typical Michael Ennis… It was offensive.”
The Raiders fans agreed with their coach wholeheartedly.
And maybe Ennis was disrespectful and offensive. However, the worst thing about his actions that night was that they distracted from his superb performance.
With his side down 12-0, missing Paul Gallen and having lost Wade Graham in the first moments of the game, Ennis clawed his side back into the game with one of the most gritty – if not also cynical and low-rent – performances of his career.
(AAP Image/Paul Miller)
He slowed the Raiders’ momentum by disrupting the ruck, relentlessly baiting their players and drawing penalties that only existed in Matt Cecchin’s mind. He swung the game and delivered a crucial victory in the Sharks journey to winning their maiden premiership.
It was far from pretty but he got the damn job done. I saw that at the time and thought Raiders fans needed to suck it up.
And now those same fans need to recognise that – as much as they might hate Mick Ennis for his past deeds – they should now embrace his belated arrival in lime green with the same open arms they will now use to do the Viking Clap together.
For all the Raiders’ promise as a side, they haven’t been able to get the job done. Stuart is betting that with Ennis’ guidance, that will change.
And if Ennis can effectively impart his special skill set to the Raiders squad then they might just mark the 30th anniversary of their famous maiden premiership with another triumph.
MadgicSH
Roar Rookie
ABSOLUTELY! Ennis will be liked by the Canberra crowd just as long as he succeeds and the Raiders succeed.
MadgicSH
Roar Rookie
WE leave early because a significant percentage of Canberra supporters live in the country. For the sake of the family budget it's wise to leave so that you can get home before half of our Coat of Arms comes out in droves on the roads and wrecks your car. Just common sense to leave before the 'roos infest the highway.
James Ditchfield
Roar Rookie
I think it's a smart acquisition by the Raiders. Hopefully Ennis can introduce a little bit of mongrel to the side. Somewhat ironic though given the uproar a couple of years ago after he took the piss out of their supporters. But anything can happen in rugby league!
Kris Swales
Expert
This move enthuses me. The Raiders are usually either pitied or admired by rival fans, so some lessons in being unlikeable merkins from the master can't go astray.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
This isn’t a great development for Rugby League. Under Stuart, the Sharks became the grubbiest team the NRL has ever seen - ripping the stitching of cuts out of opposition players faces etc. Ennis is an infamous grub - in fact it’s what he is best known for. This isn’t heading anywhere good. A pity. I liked the Raiders.
Nat
Roar Guru
Ummm, isn't that Ricky's job? Ricky could control a game with his smarts and boot yet the Raiders halves is the one area they have sorely lacked for some time. Sorry Tim, but you can point to a couple of boppers and refer to them as defensive liabilities, however, it is the halves who could have better managed their close-outs. This was Ricky's bread and butter back in his day and I rate Hodgson highly enough that Ennis would only add slightly to his game. That said, if Ricky brings in (say) a Johns to work with the halves, the board may wonder what the coach is actually bringing.
Paul
Roar Guru
Albo, I don't doubt Ennis can tell thee guys what he did, show them hat he did, etc but it takes a special kind of player to get away with some of the tactics he did. The other guy who was and is expert and having his way is Cam Smith. He gets away with absolute murder around the ruck then gets away with even more through his on field refereeing conferences. Again, others can try and copy his, but there's no-one capable of doing what he's done and getting away with it.
Adam
Roar Guru
I've never understood why it happens at GIO stadium. It's actually remarkably easy to get out of compared to other grounds. Just park at the CIT and it's a breeze to get out of. The fans should try to get out of Bellerive down here in Hobart...Now that's a pain
Albo
Roar Rookie
Mick Ennis' key characteristic has always been his competitiveness. It was this competitiveness mixed with his "street smarts" that overcame his average talents to become a top line footballer. Not sure he has a lot of similar characteristics within that Raiders group to make much difference to their performance. Perhaps Rapana & Whitehead might understand what he is talking about ?
Conan of Cooma
Roar Rookie
Every game I've been to at GIO has Raiders fans streaming out the gates before the game is finished, winning or not. I understand the reason why, poorly managed parking facilities and vehicle access problems - People want to get home easily and without hassle. But when the home side see's that happening it has to be a kick in the guts.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think the jury's out on whether Ennis will be a value add to the Raiders coaching staff. I'm not for a second questioning anything Tim's put in this article, but there's a world of difference between doing ( as Ennis did when playing) and saying ( where Ennis not only has to impart knowledge, he has to do that to guys willing and capable of carrying out these "tactics"). Ennis is clearly capable of the doing & saying. It remains to be seen whether the Raiders are capable of following his instructions. Remember, Ennis walked a very fine line with the things he got away with - most times they came off, but when they didn't, they failed pretty spectacularly
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Ennis at the Raiders?? This will be interesting, wonder how the crowd will take it...
Jimmy
Guest
Great article Tim. As a raiders tragic I recognize this coaching addition as much needed. You have nailed it re mongrel and cunning... unfortunately Canberra (as a city) has, for a long time, exhibited self confidence issues. It is irrational because Canberra is a diverse and interesting place. I guess local teams tend to take on the persona of the place they represent (it's part of the reason Raiders fans aren't surprised when we lead by 13 with 5 to go and get run down). While Ricky Stuart's profile in the game and ambition for the club combat the underlying sentiment of low self-esteem, his coaching tenancies (e.g. continually finding ways of excusing close losses) reinforce it. For all the carry on, Mick Ennis is a winner, he will brush straight by the stigma and focus on what needs to be done. I expect he will be ablely supported by the recruitment of John Bateman.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Putting Jack Wighton into the front line of defence is hugely more positively beneficial to the Raiders than Ennis’ ‘consulting’.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Joey Leilua will be all ears. It's grasping at straws to some extent and you wonder why Ricky Stuart with his much superior record of winning big games couldn't explain to his troops on how to go about it. On the other hand if the players think it will make a difference then it probably will.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
I was there when Ennis mimicked the Viking clap after the Sharks got the better of us in the 2016 final - can't say I was happy about it at the time - but I'm starting to think the Viking clap may be a bit past its use by date - wouldn't it be ironic if Ennis got the Raiders coaching gig at some stage - we could do worse
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Loving this appointment - can only be good for the club - the bloke is a winner and comes up with some great insights on Fox - he should also be the full bottle on where the Raiders need to improve - good on Ricky for approaching him as well
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Well at least he knows how to do the viking clap, so off to a great start.
Taree Raider
Guest
I'm over the moon about Ennis coming to the Raiders. He is a very articulate & intelligent and as you said Tim, knows what it takes to win. He was brilliant to listen to when on Fox, his analysis of teams was always interesting. I still think that he needed an uppercut for mocking the Viking Clap, but hey that was 2016. Back in the glory days when we won more than we lost. Nothing of note has happened since. Maybe Michael will take over from Ricky? He couldn't be any worse.
Ronald M
Guest
Michael is a very capable guy and I am sure that he will do a lot of good at Canberra. He is exactly what Canberra need, a consultant that can help cover for Stuart's inadequacies. I have moved them up a couple of places on my 2019 prediction ladder as a direct result of this appointment. Ennis in my view will make a very good future coach.