Smith expects best of Ennis in grand final
Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith expects retiring hooker Michael Ennis to be at his ‘‘scheming best’’ in next Sunday’s NRL grand final.
The Storm won through to the last game of the season with a 14-12 win over Canberra Raiders at Melbourne’s AAMI Park in front of 28,161 supporters on Saturday night, with Smith’s second-half penalty goal proving the difference in a gritty, dogged contest.
Cronulla Sharks await the Storm in Sunday night’s grand final at ANZ Stadium, with Ennis to play his last NRL game before retirement.
Smith and Ennis have had many run-ins throughout their career including in the 2014 elimination final at AAMI Park when Ennis rubbed Smith’s head cynically after Smith dropped the ball.
Smith said the Sharks would again prove a difficult opponent especially with the club having never won a premiership from three grand finals and hooker Ennis playing his final game.
The Storm beat the Sharks at AAMI Park in the final round of the season but lost to them 14-6 in Sydney in round four.
‘‘He’ll be at his scheming best, no doubt,’’ Smith said of Ennis. ‘‘Mick’s a competitor. He’s out there to do his best to win.
‘‘We faced before him in the 2012 grand final when he was at the [Canterbury] Bulldogs - he was at his best in that game as well nothing is going to change with Mick.
‘‘He’s had a great season. I’m sure his team-mates want to send him out a winner but we aren’t focusing on any individuals or special occasions. Our focus will be on our team and how we need to play.’’
While veterans like Smith and Cooper Cronk will be making a return to the grand final after playing in the club’s 2012 triumph, many of the side will be going into their first.
‘‘I feel really pleased for the young guys in the squad who haven’t experienced the grand final before, there are a few of them in there, so I’m excited for them because of the work they have put in this year.’’
Cronk was at the forefront of the Storm’s win over Canberra, in his 300th NRL game.
He scored Melbourne’s first try in the 32nd minute when he ran on to a Smith ball out of dummy half and dived across the line.
It was a special moment with the pair the first 300-gamers to play in the same line-up.
The Storm led 8-6 at halftime and held on to win.Cronulla will attempt to win their first grand final after beating the reigning premiers, North Queensland, 32-20 at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
Former Warriors star James Maloney turned in a man-of-thematch performance, scoring two tries in a sublime display.
Skipper Paul Gallen led from the front as the Sharks dominated the Cowboys from the outset, leading 14-0 at the break and having too much gas for the Cowboys in the second half.