Canterbury captain Michael Ennis has declined to discuss Ben Barba and social media abuse of the unsettled Bulldogs fullback.
Barba, who is seeking a release from the final two years of his contract, copped abuse after posting a photo on Instagram on Sunday with the caption: “Miss the QLD weather! #beautifulOneDay#spectacularTheNext”.
He has said he wants out of his Bulldogs contract because he wants to stay close to his ex-partner and their two young daughters who are relocating to Queensland.
Barba also put up Instagram posts about the weather in Melbourne and Darwin, but the image of a beach in Queensland nonetheless sparked furore from angry Bulldogs fans who saw it as provocative.
Ennis told Sky Sports Radio on Monday he understood Barba’s desire to be with his children, but changed tack while talking to reporters at Belmore on Tuesday.
“The situation with Ben, it copped enough press last week,” said Ennis when asked about the social media backlash against the 2012 Dally M Medal winner.
“…I’ll talk about Friday’s game, but I’m not going to make any comment on the Ben situation.
“Just for the sheer fact I don’t know enough about it. I’m not on social media.”
Teammate Dale Finucane was more sympathetic.
“You definitely feel for him,” Finucane said when told about the Twitter and Instagram abuse.
“You’ve seen it in the media this year with racism and all those sort of things. I don’t think any of that social media trolling is called for.”
Finucane could see the lighter side of Barba’s post.
“Queensland is a nice place, so he’s right,” he said with a laugh.
Ennis insisted the constant speculation about the injured Barba’s future at Belmore would not be a distraction for his fifth-placed side, who next face second-placed South Sydney at ANZ Stadium.
“I know the club will handle that situation along with Ben – as best as possible. Other than that, I haven’t really got a comment,” he said.
“We’re in a vital position on the ladder and we need to make sure we perform on Friday. So the boys haven’t spoken about it (Barba’s situation) honestly, too much at all.”