Brett and Josh Morris prepare for their 80th and final match as teammates

AFTER 80 matches together for the Dragons and Bulldogs, Brett and Josh Morris will play as teammates for the final time against Cronulla.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH — Pictured at Belmore Oval today are Bulldogs players Josh and Brett Morris. Picture: Tim Hunter.

JOSH Morris will not revert to sledging his twin brother Brett next year when the pair become reluctant rivals.

“I used to call him a cat before we played each other,’’ Josh said.

“I would say he was a cat because he played on the wing. That used to be enough to get under his skin. But I had to stop sledging him after he scored a hat-trick against me.’’

Morris’ three-try haul came in 2010, one of seven times they have faced each other in the NRL.

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The twins will play together as teammates for the 80th and final time when they line up for the Bulldogs against the Sharks in a clash that will mark the end of their great rugby league partnership.

Playing their first match together in 2007 for the Dragons when Josh joined Brett in first grade, the twins have combined to win 39 matches as teammates.

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“I’ don’t really like playing against him,’’ Josh said.

“I have certainly had a lot more fun playing next to him than I have had lining up against him.’’

The pair will resume a reluctant rivalry next year with Josh set to play for the Sharks and Brett the Roosters.

“We haven’t really thought too much about it,’’ Josh said.

“We have just been concentrating on playing well and trying to win games. It has been our focus to try and finish the year well.’’

The twins have played together for years at Canterbury. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

After both making their NRL debuts for the Dragons, the son’s of former St George star Steve “Slippery’’ Morris parted ways in 2009 when Josh left his junior club St George Illawarra to become a Bulldog.

“We wanted to gain our identities,’’ Josh said.

“Both from our father and from each other. I guess that is one of the reasons I came over to the Bulldogs originally.

“We were able to do our own things at separate clubs. We didn’t want to be in each other’s shadow.’’

The twins were reunited in 2015 when Brett joined Josh at the Bulldogs.

“The six years we had apart made the time we have spent back together a bit more special,’’ Josh said.

The brothers will go their separate ways next year. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“I guess I appreciated playing with him more after playing against him for that long.

“The last four years have been great but we both knew that it was going to come to an end because of the salary cap and where the Bulldogs were at.

“We have had time to prepare for the fact that we wouldn’t be staying here together.’’

Josh will also have time to prepare himself for next year when he takes on his brother for the first time since 2014.

“It will be interesting coming up against him,’’ Josh said.

“And I am sure there will be plenty of banter on the field. It will be interesting to see who my brother’s support when we come up against each other.

“What I do know is that I won’t be calling him a cat and making him angry.’’

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Originally published as Brett and Josh Morris prepare for their 80th and final match as teammates