Fiery Canterbury-Bankstown hooker Michael Ennis is adamant he won't change his ways after he was awarded the captaincy for the 2012 season.
The 27-year-old is widely considered the game's best sledger, prompting Parramatta skipper Nathan Hindmarsh labelling him a 'grub' at a post-match press conference last year after Ennis appeared to taunt his NSW team-mate in back play.
"I certainly compete very hard on the field and that won't change," Ennis said at Belmore Sports Ground on Friday.
"It's a wonderful role to be given as captain and a lot comes with that but my main focus is playing well for the football team and not letting anyone down at the club."
"I've been doing that since I've been here and that won't change in any regard and we've also got a lot of really good guys in the group who have got a lot of good leadership qualities that will help me along the way as well."
Ennis, who is entering his fourth season with the Bulldogs after stints with Newcastle, St George Illawarra and Brisbane, takes over the reins from Andrew Ryan who retired at the end of last season.
Asked his reaction when informed of his appointment, Ennis replied: "Very emotional actually. When Bobcat (Ryan) retired it was certainly something that I felt very strongly about doing. It's a great club here and we've got a wonderful roster of good fellas that I'm mates with, and now with the addition of the coaching staff that we've got we've got some good times ahead and it's great to be named captain and to be a part of that."
The veteran of 144 first-grade games and seven Origin appearances for the Blues says being named the club's 77th skipper is the 'biggest honour' of his career.
"It certainly outshines anything I've achieved in the game," he said.
"It's something that I regard extremely highly and something that I think I'm going to look back on in many years to come as a very, very special and proud moment in my life and I'm really looking forward to the challenge ahead."
New Bulldogs coach Des Hasler expects the ultra-competitive Ennis to thrive in his new role.
"For Michael personally it's a great milestone," Hasler said.
"I think over the last couple of years there's really been a maturation about Michael's game, and to play rep football and play Origin you really need those leadership qualities about you."
"I think it'll certainly add to him and I really think it'll make his game better."