HOOKER Jake Granville’s success has come from backing himself and knowing his role in the Cowboys, but he welcomes the chance to learn a thing or two from Michael Ennis.

Ennis was central to Cronulla’s 24-18 upset of North Queensland in Round 16 in Townsville.

The Sharks and NSW hooker’s blend of football nous, niggle and strategic verbals will all add to the education of “Jake the Rake’’ in his first season as a starting NRL No.9.

“He played really well against us up here and he’s going to be really tough,” Granville said.

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“I played against him when the Broncos played the Bulldogs (last year). He’s an awesome player. You learn a lot as a young bloke, playing against players like that.

“He is in great form at the moment. He gets his forwards running on to the ball well and we’ll have to aim up in defence.

“They finished the game against the Warriors (last Saturday) so strong.”

Granville has made a sound transition to his greater workload at the Cowboys, with his average of 25 tackles a game the fourth most by a Cowboys player.

In his eight first grade games for Brisbane last year, he averaged 24 minutes of action and it stands at 50 minutes in 2015.

With the ball, the elusive former Bronco is averaging 80 possessions a game and limiting himself to five runs from dummy-half.

“I’ve enjoyed the challenge and I want to keep improving,” he said.

“I started in the Queensland Cup. You don’t have as much time to think (in the NRL), but the Queensland Cup helped me to get my game sorted.”

The Cowboys have now won four successive games at Cronulla, where they last lost in 2008.

Granville said coach Paul Green had been insistent in recent weeks on North Queensland being better defensively.