Raiders coach Ricky Stuart unleashed both barrels on Ennis this week while Peter Sterling and NSW coach Laurie Daley have also rebuked the Sharks hooker with different levels of ferocity.

The word being tossed around most liberally is the word ‘disrespect'. Looking at the images of the moment that so antagonised Raiders faithful it’s easy to lose count of all the middle fingers raised in his direction and, if a picture really does say a thousand words,  most of them would’ve been of the unprintable four-letter variety. All at a bloke simply clapping his hands above his head.

It’s a given that the punter who buys their ticket is, within reason, entitled to yell and scream what they want and, as the Raiders fans have done a fine job of this season, create a hostile atmosphere for visiting teams. Kickoff loves the viking clap. It’s wonderful to see fans create something unique (though it was borrowed from Icelandic football fans) and you can’t argue that the atmosphere it creates is nothing short of electric.

I think most visiting teams and players would tell you they enjoy it as well but how far is their reverence for it supposed to stretch? It’s up to the players in the opposing team to react to it. Some choose, or need, to block it out but others, like Ennis, thrive on it. 

Rugby league is a tribal game, a combative one and Ennis’s reaction was in proportion to what the fans dished up. He didn’t make any obscene or inappropriate gestures, he didn’t yell profanities he didn’t overstep the line. In the same game Jack Bird was seen putting his index finger to his lips shooshing the Raiders fans without any of the attention Ennis has attracted. 

For the record Kickoff loved that as well. It’s all great rugby league theatre.

Ennis’s attempts at diplomacy following the match have served to heighten criticism. He should have just come out and said: ‘Look it was a great game, the Raiders fans turned on a fantastic atmosphere. They were absolutely giving it to us all game and in the heat of the moment, after coming back from 10-0 down, away from home, week one of the finals I just decided to give some back. There was no malice in it it was just a bit of fun and an acknowledgment both sides fought a really tough battle and this time we came out on top’.

He’d still cop a bit of flak but it’s doubtful it would’ve become a prolonged drama. Does anyone really think Ennis mocking of the viking clap last week is going to make Raiders fans less likely to participate when those drums beat again this week?

People continue to bemoan the lack of characters in the game. That includes villains, and Ennis has always been willing to play that role. It’s something he’s admitted gets the best of him at times but he’s fully aware that when things go against him, when he makes an error, fans and opposition players will pile on. He’s willing to wear that and you won’t hear him complaining of “disrespect” about if afterwards.

It’s completely understandable that his actions drew the ire of Raiders fans They have every right to be filthy and to hold onto it, to never forget it and rain down their disapproval every time the Raiders and Sharks play for the next decade.

Let’s hope they do because that is how great rivalries are born, rivalries on which our great game is built.