‘Devastating’: Brett Morris’ career all but over after scans confirm ACL tear

Brett Morris has almost certainly played his last game for the Sydney Roosters after scans confirmed the worst fears of every NRL fan.

Brett Morris of the Roosters.

Brett Morris is expected to miss the remainder of the season after scans confirmed the Sydney Roosters winger suffered an ACL tear against the Newcastle Knights.

During Saturday evening’s match at McDonald Jones Stadium, Morris and Roosters teammate Lindsay Collins went down with serious knee injuries, forcing the visitors to play with 11 players.

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As first reported by The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield, scans revealed both players had ruptured their anterior cruciate ligaments, almost certainly ruling them out for the remainder of 2021.

Morris was weighing up retirement at the end of the season, meaning the 34-year-old may have played his last NRL game.

“I can’t see (Morris) coming back from an ACL injury at 34,” Queensland great Corey Parker told Fox League on Sunday.

Reports that scans have confirmed ACL ruptures for both Brett Morris and Lindsay Collins. Shattering news for both players. Most common treatment option taken is reconstruction surgery with 6-9 months recovery. Horrible way for Morris to end his career if that’s the case

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) May 2, 2021

Never been a Roosters or NSW fan but who isn't a Brett Morris fan? Sad to see his career end that way, if it has.

— Rhys O'Neill (@Rhys_ONeill_) May 1, 2021

Roosters coach Trent Robinson told reporters on Saturday evening: “Shattering is the word. It was a really, really tough night for us … it’s one of the proudest and worst sheds I’ve been in.

“We’ve got a group of guys that really care for each other and love playing together and you’ve got a guy that’s a legend of our game, one of the best wingers we’ve seen, and he’s possibly just finished his career.

“It’s extremely flattening. The game pales in significance to how you feel about Brett and Lindsay.

“It’s a sad night for us but no-one ever gets a fairytale. Jake (Friend) didn’t get one, Brett didn’t get one. But they did get fairytales in the way the way their career was played.”

Brett Morris of the Roosters.

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Footage from inside the Roosters changeroom after the game showed Morris sitting down with ice on his knee, looking utterly dejected.

The veteran winger broke down in tears when he shared a lengthy embrace with his twin brother, Roosters centre Josh, as the heartbreaking scenes devastated the rugby league community.

Morris’ former NSW teammate Luke Lewis told ABC Grandstand on Sunday: “Devastating. Absolutely devastating. He’s a superstar and an absolute gentleman and he still had so much to offer.”

Rugby league icon Phil Gould tweeted: “Don’t like seeing any player injured, but sometimes a moment takes your breathe. We play rugby league accepting injuries are part of game. We just dread the serious injury that might end career. If that’s the case here, his career ranks amongst very best ever.”

— with Andrew McMurtry