Josh Morris and Kyle Flanagan prove their focus to Roosters during NRL lockdown
Josh Morris had just one day at Roosters HQ before the NRL shut down but the rugby league veteran hasn’t wasted a moment in maintaining his fitness and impressing his new teammates.
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Sydney Roosters recruit Josh Morris has proved that even at age 33, and in lockdown, all NRL buys must prove themselves.
Despite having spent only a day at Tricolours HQ before the NRL season was suspended, Morris has still used the ensuing weeks of self-isolation like any rookie buy would early on — proving his worth.
According to Roosters forward Mitch Aubusson, the veteran of six Kangaroo caps and 15 NSW Origin appearances has been regularly sending video of his rigorous lockdown training sessions to the team’s WhatsApp group.
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Aubusson also praised another newbie, halfback Kyle Flanagan, saying: “There is a hunger there that I haven’t seen in a young guy for a long time.
“Over the past few weeks, Kyle has worked as hard as anyone else, if not harder, to get his body right. He’s been really good.”
And as for Morris?
“Obviously, Josh was only here for a day before everything got called off,” Aubusson continued. “But he’s been showing us a few videos on our WhatsApp group about how hard he’s been training. And it’s impressive.
“Josh is a strong guy. Hungry to perform. We’re really happy he’s here and ready to work.”
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Elsewhere, both Aubusson and Roosters No.9 Jake Friend insisted the reigning premiers had enough time to make the all-important top four despite the season being shortened.
Currently 12th after dropping both their opening games, the boys from Bondi Junction will need to start fast, and at some stage go on a run of wins, if they are to earn a third straight NRL title.
“But there’s plenty of life left in this competition,” Aubusson said. “It’s gone from a marathon to a three-quarter marathon — there is still a long way to go.”
Friend agreed, suggesting Roosters coach Trent Robinson would already have a blueprint drawn up for the weeks and months ahead.
“Obviously it’s tougher for us than the teams that have won two,” he said. “But while it will be a tougher road, that’s what has been decided and I’m sure Robbo will have a plan.”
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Asked if the need to start fast had been used as motivation for the Roosters’ playing group while training out of garages and backyard gyms, the hooker admitted: “It was touched on. But everyone at this club is aware that we have to be ready to go.
“And I trust the guys here to have done that (prepared themselves).
It’s a shortened season, but we’re ready to get after it.”
Aubusson also ruled out any discussions among the playing group about needing to go on a run of wins to make the top four within the shortened season.
“The football stuff will look after itself,” he said. “We just need to use these next couple of weeks to get ourselves right.
“I’ve been around a while now and there’s no chance I’m thinking any further than that first round. Otherwise you can fall into a big trap.
“And I’ll be telling the younger guys it is one game at a time, one session at a time.
“You get the most out of those and the rest will look after itself.
“You start thinking about (winning) six, seven games … that’s up to Robbo and the coaching staff to think about.”
Originally published as Josh Morris and Kyle Flanagan prove their focus to Roosters during NRL lockdown