Reasons why Phil Gould does not want to see Dylan Edwards picked out of position in Origin
Gus wants selectors to pick Edwards at fullback or not at all, saying while he could do it, it would be unfair to put…
One of Des Hasler’s former star pupils Josh Perry is tipping Michael Ennis to play against South Sydney on Sunday and believes the Canterbury coach could be masterminding one of the great NRL grand final smokescreens.
Perry played under Hasler for three years at Manly and was a member of the side that beat Melbourne in the 2008 premiership decider.
The NSW and Test representative said his former boss would be revelling in his side being written off with the Bulldogs, at $3.00, the equal biggest outsiders to win a grand final since the Sydney Roosters in 2000.
Although Ennis arrived at the grand final lunch with his fractured foot in a moonboot and on crutches, Perry said the injury may not be as bad as Hasler and the club are letting on.
“I think they are definitely underdogs, but I am tipping the Bulldogs this week simply because Dessie is there and I know he will have something up his sleeve,” Perry told AAP.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Ennis plays.
“If you know Dessie … just the way he’s being on camera, he’s being a bit cheeky and I wouldn’t be shocked at all if Ennis is in the side come Sunday.”
Sunday’s decider will be Hasler’s fifth grand final in eight years and Perry, who also won the premiership with Newcastle in 2001, said there’s no better coach to be at the helm of a side going in to the biggest game of the season.
“He is a father figure and I guarantee every single player in that Bulldogs side will want to go out and play that little bit extra for Dessie,” he said.
“That for me makes him special. Not many coaches have got that and I know from my time at Manly everyone felt the same.
“Even if he doesn’t win on Sunday he has to go down as one of the great coaches of all time.
“He’s been in five of the last eight grand finals and he doesn’t get the raps he deserves.
“But that is how he likes it, for him it’s all about the team.”
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Gus wants selectors to pick Edwards at fullback or not at all, saying while he could do it, it would be unfair to put…
NRL clubs have been warned to cut back on player dissent about refereeing decisions or they will end up in the sin bin more…
Elias is a true-blue New South Welshman, but is this going too far?
Well, Round 9 was a turn-up for the books. The NRL had started to get into a familiar rhythm where the favourites seemed to…
Ivan Cleary is right when he says NRL clubs that produce their own talent should be compensated when rival teams plunder the players they…
It was a moment that should have been the highlight of his young career. The epitome of a man’s battles not only on the…