Bulldogs winger Brett Morris on leaving Belmore, joining Roosters and playing with Sonny Bill
BRETT Morris has run out for Canterbury 64 times over the past four seasons but as the winger’s time at club comes to a close there’s one game he will always remember.
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BRETT Morris has run out for Canterbury 64 times over the past four seasons but as the winger’s time at club comes to a close there’s one game he will always remember.
The Bulldogs’ return to Belmore Oval in 2015 - the first game at their spiritual home since 1998 - packed in almost 17,000 fans for the clash against the Storm.
“I think the first game here back at Belmore when we played against Melbourne and beat them,” Morris told The Daily Telegraph.
“Actually, just the whole week was special. There was a buzz around all of Belmore and you could feel it.
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“Then in the game, [David] Klemmer’s first hit up, he come off the back fence and skittled a few blokes and from that moment we knew we weren’t going to lose that game.
“Then singing the song in front of the packed hill that was pretty awesome. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
Morris has been squeezed out of Belmore due to the club’s salary cap constraints to link-up with the Sydney Roosters on a two-year deal after knocking back interest from the Super League.
After lifting the NRL title with St George Illawarra in 2010, Morris says the desire to win another premiership is now greater than ever.
“I’m at the back end of my career and when you get to these stages you want success and I won a competition when I was at the Dragons,” he said.
“I truly believe the Roosters have a side that can challenge for the next couple of years and that was something I wanted to be a part of.
“They’re a club with a great history and I could see myself fitting in to it.”
Morris heads to Bondi knowing he’ll be locked in a preseason battle for a spot in coach Trent Robinson’s backline.
While the Roosters have Blake Ferguson go to Parramatta, Morris will still be competing with Daniel Tupou, Joseph Manu, Latrell Mitchell and English import Ryan Hall for a spot on one of the edges.
“Whatever they tell me to do, I’ll do it. For me personally I’m ready for it, it’s a new challenge,” he said.
“It’s the kind of thing that brings out the best in you. I don’t find it daunting at all, if anything I’m looking forward to it.”
Regarded as one the game’s best finishers, Morris says he would love the opportunity to play alongside Sonny Bill Williams at the Roosters.
Williams revealed earlier this week a return to the Tricolours post the rugby union World Cup was a genuine possibility.
“Obviously Sonny is a legend of our game and he’s a legend of the game over there in New Zealand and if he did come back that would be great,” he said.
“Plenty of fans would love to see Sonny finish his career in rugby league.
“He’s a such wonderful player and he’s a great role model for young kids.”
Morris’ top grade career is starting to bear a striking resemblance to that of his father.
Steve Morris, who played 246 first-grade games, also started his career at Kogarah and finished it with Eastern Suburbs.
“I saw him the other day and he actually said ‘you’re copying me’ and I said ‘nah, you didn’t go to the Bulldogs mate so I’ve got you covered’,” he said.
“My dad had a great career at the Dragons and finished off at the Roosters. It is funny how things work out like that.”