THERE’S a very good reason the rugby league world has dubbed Michael Ennis “Ennis the Menace”.

The Cronulla Sharks rake has a reputation for being a grub, a pest, a general pain in the backside, and it’s something he thrives on.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart and former Eels legend Peter Sterling both lashed Ennis for being “disrespectful” after the Sharks’ gutsy 16-14 win over the Raiders in the nation’s capital on Saturday night for how he interacted with the home fans at full-time.

He went over to the Raiders faithful and performed a Viking clap — slapping his hands high above his head — no doubt to mock them. Canberra supporters have adopted that celebration this season after gaining inspiration from Iceland fans at football’s European Championships earlier in the year.

It turns out that wasn’t the only way Ennis riled up the men in green on the weekend.

Speaking on Fox Sports’ panel show The Back Page on Tuesday night, the 32-year-old — who will retire at season’s end — revealed a sneaky move he used to embarrass the opposition on the field, not just in the stands.

Panel member and Courier Mail journalist Robert Craddock asked Ennis about something he did early in his career, when he’d pretend to be the referee and call defenders offside when his team was in attack. That way, would-be tacklers would back off the ball carrier and allow Ennis’ teammate a clearer path through the defensive line.

Ennis is at it again in the 2016 finals series.

“I still do it,” Ennis said to laughter from the panel. “I just go with the names now so it’s a bit more formal.

“I still get a few blokes from time to time when they’re chasing down on a kick-chase line. I’ll call them out and they’ll pull out and one of our blokes will half go through.

“I did it to one of the Raiders blokes. (Sharks winger) Valentine Holmes was coming out from dummy half the other night and he (the Raiders defender) was obviously going to try and get out and knock him over so I called him out.

“He half pulled out and Valentine half went through, then he (the defender) turned around and went, ‘Hey!’”

It’s vintage Ennis. He just loves that sort of stuff.

He revealed how attached he’d become to his “Ennis the Menace” moniker in a story about his arrival at the Broncos after moving north from the Dragons.

A big banner with “Ennis the Menace” emblazoned on it used to be a permanent fixture on the hill at St George home games when the No. 9 wore the Red V, and when he went to Queensland, he met the man who was responsible for the banner at a training session.

After signing a few autographs, the fan asked Ennis if he wanted the banner. “I said, ‘Bloody oath I do.’ It’s in the garage at home now,” Ennis said on TV.

The eight-time NSW representative will be hoping to end his career with the Sharks on a high as they look to secure their maiden premiership. In two weekends time the men from the Sydney Shire will play off for a place in the decider against the winner of this Friday’s semi-final between the Cowboys and the Broncos.