Sea Eagles NRL news: Michael Ennis joins Manly as assistant coach for 2024
Michael Ennis will continue his upwards trajectory through the NRL coaching ranks next year, signing on with the Sea Eagles for the 2024 season as a specialist halves and hooker coach.
After retiring from professional rugby league at the end of 2016, Ennis has worked with both Canberra and Cronulla in a variety of coaching roles, as well as commentating for Fox League on a weekly basis.
The premiership-winning hooker was linked with a potential move to the Dragons for next year, with former head coach Shane Flanagan now at the helm, but has opted to take his talents to Manly.
Ennis will join Anthony Seibold on the northern beaches and will be mentoring some of the best young talents and experienced players in the competition.
Michael Ennis signs with Manly Sea Eagles for 2024 season
In a statement released on Thursday, the 39-year-old expressed his gratitude towards the Sea Eagles for allowing him to join their ranks.
“To be working with some of the game’s finest players in Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic, along with the next generation, is exciting for me’’ he said.
“I’m also really looking forward to working with Luke Brooks…. a change of scenery will be good for Luke.
“It will provide him an opportunity to play his best footy, which we saw at different stages of this year. He is a very good player when he is playing with confidence.
“One of the other players I am looking forward to working with is Lachlan Croker. I have just admired him from afar with his work ethic and his toughness. I feel there are areas of his game that I can help him with.
“I’ve been highly impressed with ‘Seibs’ in the early conversations with him and his staff. There is a great coaching staff there and I’m very happy to be joining them and sharing some of my experiences in the game.”
Ennis will bring over 270 games of experience to the table, etching out a storied career spanning 13 years in the top grade, as well as representing NSW on eight occasions.
Seibold believes the addition of the former dummy-half will be vital for Manly’s potential success.
“Michael had a fantastic career as a player and is a premiership winner. He was a real leader at a couple of clubs he played at and also represented NSW,’’ he said.
“The thing I love about Michael since his retirement from playing is that he has worked for a couple of clubs in coaching positions.
“Michael will be helping with our attack in 2024 and from a positions point of view, he will be working with our halves and our hookers.
“We feel as though he can help them improve individually but also us collectively from an attacking point of view.”
Warrington Wolves-linked centre opts to remain in Australia with new NRL club
NRL ace Morgan Harper has penned a one-year deal with Parramatta Eels for the 2024 campaign, making the switch from Manly Sea Eagles.
Back in August, Code Sports reported that Super League outfit Warrington Wolves had set their sights on Harper.
Instead, Sam Burgess’ side picked up Papua New Guinea star Rodrick Tai, who has spent time with the Dolphins down under this term without making an appearance, having previously featured in the Queensland Cup for the PNG Hunters.
New Zealand-born Harper – who also has Irish heritage – is of Maori descent, and has represented the Maori All Stars as well as the Junior Kiwis.
Playing junior rugby league for the Ngaruawahia Panthers in the Waikato Rugby League, the centre debuted in the NRL for Canterbury Bulldogs in 2019 against Brisbane Broncos.
Having played just once more for the Bulldogs the following year, he made a mid-season switch to Manly, getting an early release from his contract to do so. In the three-and-a-half years which have followed, the 25-year-old has made 56 appearances for the Sea Eagles, scoring 15 tries.
He now moves to the Eels – who finished 10th this term – on a one-year deal, looking to re-invigorate his career after a year which has seen him play just nine times.
Meanwhile, ahead of Burgess’ move back to England, the incoming Wire boss has a lot to ponder when it comes to the three and four slots.
Warrington Wolves’ centre options for 2024 as former reported target makes NRL move
Burgess’ selection headache when it comes to his centres will be a nice problem to have.
While PNG ace Tai has been recruited, when you look at the options as the new head coach’s disposal, he’s probably bottom of the list at present.
Captain Stefan Ratchford – Burgess’ former England team-mate – made 30 appearances this year, surpassing the 300 mark for the club, and now is just three away from 450 career appearances.
Of those 30, all bar one saw him start at left centre. The one exclusion came in defeat at Castleford Tigers back in June, moving up to stand-off at the Jungle.
Next to Ratchford for the majority of 2023 was Peter Mata’utia, who has confirmed his retirement, with Greg Minikin – another departee – filling in when required and youngster Connor Wrench making a comeback from injury late on to feature sporadically in that number three spot.
A fully fit Wrench will be back available, but so will Toby King, who returns to the Halliwell Jones following a year on loan at Wigan Warriors which has seen him crowned a Super League champion.
The 27-year-old has been a key cog as a loanee for the Cherry and Whites, culminating in their 10-2 Grand Final triumph over Catalans Dragons at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Given the success he’s experienced during his time at the DW Stadium, Burgess will surely favour sticking him back in his starting 13 for the Wire next term.
