Ennis pays Penrith

Bulldogs skipper Michael Ennis has given Penrith the ultimate compliment by comparing their playing style similar to that of September specialists Melbourne and Manly. After entering the finals race with just two wins from their final eight regular season games, many expected the Belmorians to limp out of the business end with a whimper.
And while back-to-back victories over perennial heavyweights in the Storm and Sea Eagles have catapulted the Bulldogs back into premiership reckoning, Ennis says Penrith are just as worthy an adversary. "[They’re] probably similar in a lot of ways in the style of footy that they play," he said on Wednesday.

"They get out of their end pretty simply. They just get down field pretty well with guys that really buy into their structure. And then obviously [Jamie] Soward picks his moments. He’s probably the form player of the comp. Kicks teams into corners and then they respond with their kick chase.

"They’re doing all the things that finals footy is about and they’re doing it well. "Obviously a fortnight ago everyone was saying the Roosters were home and hosed and they come out and beat them. So it’s going to be one hell of a challenge for us."

The western Sydney counterparts have met twice this year, with Penrith victorious on both occasions. The first was when Panthers fullback Matt Moylan nailed a sideline conversion after the siren to escape with an 18-16 win in round three.