Rivals Circle Josh Morris But Brother Will Stay Put
Sun Herald
Sunday March 16, 2008
JOSH MORRIS could be playing his last season with his Dragons teammate and twin, Brett, as five clubs lobby for his signature.
Having pulled out of the race for Israel Folau, the Bulldogs are leading the chase for Josh Morris, who plays wing or fullback and represented Country Origin last season. He is off contract at the end of the season, while Brett is contracted to the Dragons for 2009.Morris's father, Steve, who represented Australia and the Dragons in the 1970s, vowed he would not pressure Josh to remain in the red and white."I wouldn't try to influence the boys' decision in any way when it comes to their careers," Morris snr told The Sun-Herald. "I'll support whatever they do and I'll leave it totally up to them."Meanwhile, St George Illawarra coach Nathan Brown is convinced the Dragons have done everything possible to avoid their traditionally slow start to the season. The Dragons kick off their campaign against the Wests Tigers at the Sydney Football Stadium today determined not to repeat the dreadful start that has plagued their recent seasons. In each of the past three years, they have managed only one win in their opening five games. And the joint-venture outfit has won its opening match of the year just twice in nine seasons. But with virtually a full-strength squad at his disposal and having taken a new approach to the pre-season, Brown said the Dragons were primed to address their early season woes. "We've definitely changed some things about our pre-season, the way we've trained, and we've also got a lot more fit players that have actually played trials," Brown said. "At this stage in the past two or three years we've had a lot more of our high-profile players either not playing or having limited pre-seasons. We're definitely a fitter, healthier squad and, compared to this stage last year, we're much more experienced as well. "A good pre-season sets you up for a good start to the year and we're comfortable with the pre-season we've had. We've just got to make sure we back it up on game day." Brown has opted to split his pre-season halves pairing of Jamie Soward and Rangi Chase, with Ben Hornby lining up at five-eighth and Chase to be used off the bench as a secondary hooker. In other news yesterday, the Dragons released hooker Tony Caine for the remainder of his contract to allow him to fully recover from the knee injury he suffered against the Sharks in 2006.While Caine started in nine first-grade games last year and also played in last month's trial match against the Bulldogs, he believed his knee would not allow him to challenge for a regular spot in the starting line-up. "This was definitely the hardest decision I have ever had to make, to walk away from the game, the club and my teammates," Caine said yesterday. "But I have had the help and support of my family, my close friends and the club."I am confident that I will play again. I don't believe this is the end of my rugby league career but I won't step on to the field until I feel myself that I am 100 per cent ready to compete to the best of my ability."
© 2008 Sun Herald