Homesick Ben Hannant might be angling to leave the kennel but contented hooker Michael Ennis is very close to committing long-term to the Bulldogs.

And with veteran skipper Andrew Ryan well into his twilight years, Ennis is seen by some as a future club leader having been mentored along his NRL journey by both Andrew Johns and Darren Lockyer.

No deal has been done yet, but the NSW Origin hooker admits he could remain with the Sydney club until around 2014 should his latest talks work out as hoped.

"Negotiations are well under way," Ennis told AAP on Tuesday.

"There could be an announcement within a few weeks."

Family reasons are behind the decisions of both Hannant and Ennis.

One of several children, Hannant wants a contract release to return to his large family on the Gold Coast.

Coffs Harbour-born Ennis, who's played for Newcastle, St George Illawarra and Brisbane, is keen to settle his wife and young son into the Bulldogs' family.

"The best thing about Canterbury is they involve your partners and your children as much as they can," said Ennis who pushed his Origin claims with a standout game against rival Robbie Farah last weekend.

"They genuinely care.

"People on the outside looking into a footy player's lives, they think it must be unbelievable.

"You do get time with your family but your weekends are taken up.

"You can't just shoot away with friends or go to the zoo with the kids, you have to play or train.

"There's a lot of sacrifices."

A future leadership role at the Dogs appeals to Ennis who's served his apprenticeship passing 100 NRL games last season.

"I was on the NRL merry-go-round for a while but I've been fortunate to have played under Joey (Andrew Johns) and Locky (Darren Lockyer) and now Andrew Ryan who's a wonderful captain.

"I've had some fair experience of picking blokes brains."

Ennis said Darren Lockyer was still Brisbane's x-factor, ahead of the Bulldogs' meeting with the Broncos on Friday at ANZ Stadium, while he warned Sam Thaiday was a man on a mission.

"While ever Darren Lockyer is in the side, he's their x-factor," said Ennis.

"He controls everything they do on the field. Whilst Israel (Folau) is a great player, and he's proven that over a number of years, I think Darren Lockyer's done it for 30 or 40 years hasn't he?

"He's a guy we need to watch as a team, we need to be on guard every time he's got the footy in his hands because he's always got blokes inside and outside of him.

"As for Thaiday, you get the feeling he has put his hand up and said 'we have lost a few guys, you young fellas I'm gonna show you the way' and he's done a great job, I think he's been really consistent over the first six rounds.

"He's certainly a guy we'll need to be good on that's for sure."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP