A decade after former NSW Blues hooker and Cronulla Sharks legend Michael Ennis first heard rumblings of a pair of promising young brothers rising through the Cronulla development ranks, he believes one of those prospects is poised to deliver NSW a victory in the opening game of the 2024 State of Origin series from the interchange bench.
Ennis, an eight-time Blues representative and part of the Sharks’ 2016 NRL premiership-winning squad, made his prediction as he teamed up with public health initiative DrinkWise at Accor Stadium on Monday morning, just 48 hours before kickoff of the highly anticipated Origin opener. The event launched a new campaign backed by the New South Wales government, NSW Police Force, the National Rugby League, and local support services, which encourages matchgoing fans and home viewers alike to drink responsibly and maintain respect for other spectators during the game.
Serving as a DrinkWise ambassador for this year’s State of Origin series, Ennis emphasized the value of creating positive, lasting memories of the sport’s biggest annual interstate rivalry. “It was a privilege to experience State of Origin as a player, but now as a fan and a parent, I want to see the night remembered for great moments on the pitch, and the good times we share off it,” he said. “No matter if fans are watching from home, at local pubs and clubs, or right here at Accor Stadium, we just want to encourage anyone drinking to do so in moderation, enjoy the experience, and show respect to everyone around them. That way, everyone can leave with great memories and hopefully a NSW win.”
Off the campaign trail, Ennis’s attention quickly turned to the on-field action, where he named Cronulla Sharks dummy-half Blayke Brailey – one of the two brothers he first heard about a decade ago during his final years at the Cronulla club – as the secret weapon that could swing the opener in the Blues’ favor. Brailey, who will make his State of Origin debut off the NSW bench on Wednesday, has worked his way into the representative side after several strong seasons leading Cronulla’s attack, and Ennis said he has watched the young hooker’s growth with pride.
“I haven’t spoken to Blayke ahead of this debut, but I couldn’t be happier for him,” Ennis said. “Blayke and his brother Jayden were just coming through the youth system when I was finishing up my time at Cronulla, and to see both of them now playing elite NRL footy is fantastic. There was always chatter around the club about how talented both boys were, even back then – when Jayden made his first-grade debut, everyone was already talking about Blayke coming up right behind him.”
From his early days in the top grade, Blayke Brailey was always tipped as a future Origin-calibre dummy-half, Ennis explained. Over the past few seasons, as he has grown into the starting nine role for the Sharks, he has transformed his game to become a key attacking focal point, rather than just a support player for his teammates. That evolution has helped Cronulla push deep into the NRL finals series in recent campaigns, and Ennis said Brailey has finally found the self-belief to match his proven on-field skill.
Ennis noted that Brailey’s call-up to the Blues squad is fully deserved, after the hooker gained valuable experience on last year’s Kangaroos Ashes tour, where he got the chance to test himself against Queensland’s star hooker Harry Grant. While Ennis said he does not know exactly how Blues coach Laurie Daley will deploy Brailey from the bench, he is confident the rookie will make a major impact when he comes on to relieve starting hooker Reece Robson late in the first half, when fatigue starts to set in for the starting side.
“That rotation between Reece and Blayke off the bench is going to be one of NSW’s biggest strengths through the whole series,” Ennis said. “Reece already has that established combination with Blues captain James Tedesco from their time together at the Roosters, but having Blayke’s attacking threat to bring on in the middle part of the game, when fatigue really hits, is going to be a massive asset. Origin fatigue hits you harder than any other football, especially in the first game of the series, and with wet conditions forecast for Sydney on Wednesday, that tiredness will set in even faster. Blayke’s speed and ability to change direction quickly out of the ruck could be exactly what the Blues need to take control of the game.”
For Ennis, if the Blues can pull off the opening win, he plans to celebrate with a quiet couple of beers of his own – responsibly, of course – watching the young rookie he first heard about a decade ago take the next step in what looks set to be a stellar representative career.