Catholics are deeply familiar with the idea that growth rarely happens in isolation. Whether through spiritual fathers, mentors or trusted companions, transformation is often shaped through relationships – people who recognise potential before it is fully realised and help draw it into the light.
It is a necessary and powerful truth of the spiritual life: we are formed through others.
Watching the arrival of assistant coach Michael Ennis at the St George Illawarra Dragons, I couldn’t help but recognise that same pattern unfolding in rugby league – and it’s the reason I’m tipping the Dragons to challenge for a place in the top eight this season, even if many strongly disagree.
To be clear, I’ve backed the Dragons to make the eight in recent years and, while there has been genuine growth, they simply haven’t reached that mark yet. But the addition of Ennis brings a different kind of confidence – not mere optimism, but the sense that a missing piece may finally be in place.
Much of the pre-season conversation has focused on what the Dragons lack: established superstars, proven combinations, or the kind of roster that naturally inspires confidence. Yet what continues to be overlooked is the presence of a new leader in Michael Ennis whose greatest strength has never simply been knowledge of the game – though he clearly possesses that – but the ability to form players and elevate those around him.
Former Sharks forward Andrew Fifita once described Ennis as the missing link in Cronulla’s premiership-winning side, even suggesting that bringing him to the club was one of the most important decisions made during that era.
What stood out most in Fifita’s reflections wasn’t just Ennis’ competitiveness, but the way he invested personally in others. He recalled how Ennis pulled him aside to ask exactly where he wanted the ball to hit him from dummy-half to maximise his carries – a level of attentiveness rarely seen, revealing a leader focused on helping individuals become the most complete version of themselves.
Fifita is far from alone. Ennis’ former Bulldogs teammates Josh Reynolds, Josh Morris and James Graham, among others, have spoken in similar terms about his impact – not only on team culture, but on their own personal development and understanding of the game.
Across different clubs and environments, the pattern remains consistent: Ennis does not simply organise teams; he forms people.
That kind of leadership feels deeply familiar through a Catholic lens. The church understands formation as something mediated – growth that happens through relationships rather than isolation.
Spiritual parenthood, most visibly lived through the ministry of priests and religious but also reflected in faithful lay mentors – and in a particular way through the formative role of parents – is not about imposing identity, but about accompanying others and drawing out what is already there. Transformation in the Christian life rarely comes through reinvention; it comes through guidance that helps people become fully themselves.
Seen through that lens, Ennis’ impact becomes easier to understand. He is not merely an assistant coach adding tactical insight; he is a formational leader capable of accelerating growth within a young squad still discovering its identity.
Many will focus on what the Dragons lack, but I believe the story of their season will be shaped by something less obvious: the presence of a mentor who knows how to draw the best out of others – and the transformation that can follow when that kind of leadership takes root.
