He was a major reason the Sharks were able to claim their maiden premiership title back in 2016, now Michael Ennis returns to impart his knowledge and expertise on the next wave of potential NRL stars.
Boasting a playing career which included 274 NRL games, 51 of those over two seasons at the Sharks, while also playing eight matches for NSW at Origin level, Ennis is back at the Cronulla club following his appointment as Elite Pathway – Player & Coach Development Manager.
Reporting to NRL Head Coach Craig Fitzgibbon and General Manager of Football Darren Mooney, Ennis will be responsible for overseeing the Sharks pathways Coaching Program, ensuring it aligns with the NRL systems and processes, while conducting intensive coaching with the Club’s identified Elite Academy players.
Ennis will also assist Sharks Pathway and Junior Recruitment Manager Glenn Brailey with recruitment and player retention.
Fitzgibbon was pleased to be able to add someone of Ennis’s calibre to the Sharks pathways coaching set up.
“I’m excited to have Mick on board,” Fitzgibbon began. “He was a premiership winning player here at the Sharks in 2016, and since retiring he’s maintained a close involvement in the game through his Fox Sports commentary and as an NRL coaching consultant.
“Mick is a local resident with a keen interest in junior league and has a passion for coaching. Our young pathway and academy players will definitely benefit from his knowledge and experience.”
Wasting no time, Ennis has already attended a handful of training sessions in casting an eye over the current crop of academy and junior representative talent and was excited about working with the male and female youngsters coming through the ranks.
“Craig (Fitzgibbon) and (CEO) Dino (Mezzatesta) have the Club heading in the right direction and I’m excited about this opportunity,” Ennis said.
“We have great potential here at the Sharks and in the Sutherland Shire, with an extremely strong local junior league and plenty of very talented kids from age 13 right through to the 20-year-old’s playing Jersey Flegg.
“I’m really passionate about junior pathways and my job will be to ensure the Sharks youngsters have a healthy environment. I love watching and helping kids chasing their NRL dreams,” Ennis added.
Ennis will get his first official look at the Sharks junior rep and academy players in a game situation when they take on the Wests Magpies in trial matches this Saturday.
