If you were watching at home, you probably had the same reaction as me … Um, come again? Was this the same Mick Ennis who, as a player, took great delight in getting up the nose of every rival player? Who, for all his talent, played the goose on more than one occasion? Who infamously gave Canberra fans a sarcastic "Viking Clap" when he was playing for the Sharks? That week, on the Professor’s Late Hit also on Fox Sports, comedian James Rochford gave Ennis a lesson on Hypocrisy 101. It was tongue-in-cheek and the viewers had a good laugh but, as this column understands it, Ennis and management did not. Rochford was told to back off. Ennis, who is off contract at the end of this season, is a rising star at Fox Sports and has the support of Fox Sports’ head of television, Steve Crawley.

But make no mistake: he is dividing opinion within his own network, and within the game, just as he did as a player. Sound bites: Michael Ennis with fellow Fox league commentator Danny Buderus. Credit:AAP His commentary of teams and certain players since joining Fox Sports after retiring at the end of 2016 has been brutal. He blow-torched Bryce Cartwright last year for "taking the piss" with his performances. As the Dragons faded out late in the season, he said this: "The individuals in that side need to stop sooking and sulking and get back to what worked for them at the start of the season". Earlier this season, he said of the Broncos and coach Anthony Seibold: "It looks to me like they’re being overcoached. They look lost, disinterested. And you’ve got a coach who’s feeding the media statistical rubbish."

Whichever way you look at it, Ennis is picking up conventional rugby league commentary and plonking it on its arse. He is breaking the long-held rule that players don't bag each other. If they do, it’s usually said long into retirement or in a measured way. Ennis has one speed with his commentary: unfiltered and relentless. Ennis isn’t one of the dozens of players who collect the massive pay cheque in retirement to state the bleeding obvious. Many former players are bemused with his commentary, believing he doesn’t have enough runs on the board to speak so viciously. They point to someone like Billy Slater, who is calling for Nine with the same class he displayed as a player.

In many respects, though, it’s refreshing — or at the very least interesting — to hear a player speak as honestly as Ennis has been. He isn’t one of the dozens of players who collect the massive pay cheque in retirement to state the bleeding obvious. From all reports, Ennis clocks into the office in the morning and pores over video and stats. He's not taking the piss whatsoever and wants to learn. If there is any criticism, he wants to win every argument on every panel, and it's exhausting. Much like he was as a player. Freddie's tough calls

NSW coach Brad Fittler was waiting in his car at the traffic lights earlier this week when a Harley-Davidson cruised up alongside him. Close calls: Brad Fittler says Nathan Cleary and James Maloney have two weeks to sort their form out. Credit:omnisport "Who’s in your team, Freddy?" enquired the bloke on the bike. Fittler gets off on Origin’s popularity but he’s finding it much tougher to work out his side for the opening match than this time last year when he was pretty much settled on his team.

He was sweating on halfback Nathan Cleary’s return from injury. Then Bulldogs prop David Klemmer played himself into the team in the final match before the team was selected. Now, he has real headaches in the halves and at right centre. It appears to be a genuine shootout between Cleary and Souths half Adam Reynolds over the final two rounds. As for right centre, who knows — although the smart money is on veteran Josh Morris. The thinking is he’s a great defensive centre and that will be critical if Fittler chooses Blake Ferguson on the right wing. It’s also the side where Queensland’s greatest attacking threat, Kayln Ponga, likes to run. Game-changer

Friday, 4pm, is looming as one of the most important dates in the game’s history. That’s when Justice Melissa Perry will hand down her verdict in Jack de Belin's Federal Court case against the NRL over its "no fault" stand down rule. The NRL could’ve had another ugly legal spat on its hands following revelations last week that NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg had told Roosters players that head office had "overcooked" the sanctions levelled at former halfback Mitchell Pearce. In 2016, Pearce paid $75,000 of a $125,000 fine and was stood down for eight matches for his Australia Day shenanigans. He also paid a hefty sum to attend a rehab in Thailand. Pearce was told last week he would’ve been on strong legal ground to take action against the NRL because of Greenberg’s admission.

Typical of the man, Pearce shrugged his shoulders and said he wanted to move on. The 30-year-old half is loving life off the field and its reflected in the way he is playing. Meanwhile, the NRL is ramping up its search for two new spin doctors to join its media department. We’re reliably informed — by those who have been approached — that the NRL wants a female for the newly created role of Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. Too harsh: Mitchell Pearce faces the press after he was punished by the NRL. Credit:ninevms Magic moments

SHOOSH! Which veteran rugby league reporter was heard spruiking on Caxton Street during Magic Round how he hadn’t been sledged by a single person since arriving in Brisbane? About two minutes later, a pack of men dressed as Reg Reagan spotted him and started shouting derogatory remarks that cannot be published in a family publication like the Herald. It was all in good fun, of course. We think. Maybe. The Magic Round was universally hailed a success, although some whingy coaches complained behind the scenes about the playing surface being responsible for several injuries — as well as their players being distracted by the carnival-like atmosphere. It’s also worth noting this from a reader, who emailed to rap the Canberra Raiders.

"I caught a plane from Melbourne to Brisbane for Magic Round and most of the Raiders were on my flight," writes Tony. "I sat next to Jarrod Croker. In front of me was Chanze [Nicoll-Klokstad] and behind me was Josh Hodgson. Loading "They’d been travelling in airports all day after a diverted flight from Canberra dumped them in Melbourne. They’d have every right to be tired and cranky. "Instead, they were all honestly the most polite and decent humans I’ve ever seen on a plane. "I fly every week from Sydney to Melbourne and I see a lot of travellers. Most keep to themselves. Some are a bit rude. Occasionally someone is nice.