Ennis likely to kick on after Bulldog legend
Set to take over kicking duties...Bulldogs hooker Michael Ennis. Picture: Brett Costello.
Source: The Daily Telegraph
A HARD act to follow. The words barely do justice to the task Canterbury face this season to fill Hazem El Masri's legendary boots, which are laced with point-scoring records.
For the first time in nine seasons, the Bulldogs will field a new goal-kicker and the competition is healthily intense to assume El Masri's mantle.
Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore has been thinking about an heir since this time last year, when it became apparent that El Masri would retire at the end of 2009.
Twelve months later the field has been narrowed to hooker Michael Ennis and winger Bryson Goodwin, who yesterday continued their duel under the watch of another former Bulldogs superboot in Daryl Halligan.
"The process of picking a new kicker has been going for about 12 months now," Moore said. "I've had Chook [Halligan] work with the other guys last season in preparation for life after Haz. I'll probably give them both a kick in the trials, and make a final decision then."
At this stage, Moore is leaning toward Ennis - who has previously kicked at Brisbane and St George Illawarra - for the role.
"Mick has that experience at NRL level, kicking week-in, week-out for an entire season and that's probably the difference between them," Moore said.
"I think Mick's record is about 75 per cent, which is pretty good. He's also the type of player who thrives on responsibility. He's mentally ready for the pressure. He would see it as a positive, not a burden."
Goodwin, however, is being kept under close watch because of the raw kicking talent he's already shown.
"Even when my brothers and I were kids, we loved to kick," Goodwin said.