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MORRIS A SATISFIED MAN
By Wayne Cousins
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
John Morris will leave Wests Tigers a very happy and satisfied man.
Morris heads into his final game for the club when he reverts back to the coveted half-back position to take on the Bulldogs at the Sydney Football Stadium this Friday night in round 26 of the Telstra Premiership.
The 29-year-old joins centre Dean Collis at the Sharks from next season.
Morris takes with him plenty of respect from team-mates, coaching staff and members alike after playing every game for Wests Tigers since his club debut against Melbourne in round one of the 2007 season. He also has been a wonderful ambassador for the club off the field.
Bought to the club as a half to replace Scott Prince, Morris was always a solid performer with his general play, solid defence and kicking game.
At times, he was the scapegoat, constantly being unfairly compared to Prince, the half-back who led the club to the 2005 title.
Coach Tim Sheens showed plenty of faith in Morris as he tried to find his mark at half-back. He was also shifted to five-eighth when Sheens chose to play Benji Marshall at half.
His utility value also saw the former Newcastle and Parramatta player moved to hooker when Sheens shifted Robbie Farah from the nine jersey to the seven.
Injuries to Marshall often saw Morris in the halves and as the chief playmaker whilst the likes of Tim Moltzen found his feet in the top grade.
It was only late into this season that Morris was moved back to the interchange bench to fill the utility role after Sheens put Marshall and Moltzen in the halves. The past few weeks has seen Moltzen go back to full-back to allow Sheens to blood rising half Robert Lui in the seven jersey.
A minor knee injury sees Lui miss the Bulldogs game, allowing Morris to have one last hurrah with Marshall in the halves.
An upbeat Morris says he was happy with his performance at half-back.
“If you look back at the games where I started at half-back, we won a fair few of them,’’ Morris said.
“People seem to forget too that I lost Benji to a long term injury in 2007 and Brett Hodgson for a fair while there. If you take out any two key players like that in any side, the side is going to struggle.
“I also played a fair bit at hooker as well which I have been really happy with. I couldn’t really shed that utility tag that I had in the early part of my career.
“I guess it can be a real strength to have and the fact that I haven’t missed a game for the club means I have been real handy for the coach to have.’’
When Morris plays his 72nd straight game for Wests Tigers, he becomes only the second player in the club’s 10 year history to play every game. The first was Prince.
“I am very proud to have achieved this. You really don’t set many goals to play every game every year. You just take it as it comes,’’ Morris said, with a smile.
“It is not all about having a bit of good luck. It is also about being consistent. You are not going to play every game of the season if you are out of form. It is about being professional with your preparation and treating your injuries.
“I’m really pleased I have come here and given the club good value and played every game.
“It has been a fantastic experience, a massive learning curve under Tim. I’ve built friendships that I will have for life. And it has been such a pleasure to play for a club with fantastic tradition in the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs Magpies.
“I’ve grown as a person and as a player. I will go forward in the next part of my life and just be thankful for this experience.’’
By Wayne Cousins
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
John Morris will leave Wests Tigers a very happy and satisfied man.
Morris heads into his final game for the club when he reverts back to the coveted half-back position to take on the Bulldogs at the Sydney Football Stadium this Friday night in round 26 of the Telstra Premiership.
The 29-year-old joins centre Dean Collis at the Sharks from next season.
Morris takes with him plenty of respect from team-mates, coaching staff and members alike after playing every game for Wests Tigers since his club debut against Melbourne in round one of the 2007 season. He also has been a wonderful ambassador for the club off the field.
Bought to the club as a half to replace Scott Prince, Morris was always a solid performer with his general play, solid defence and kicking game.
At times, he was the scapegoat, constantly being unfairly compared to Prince, the half-back who led the club to the 2005 title.
Coach Tim Sheens showed plenty of faith in Morris as he tried to find his mark at half-back. He was also shifted to five-eighth when Sheens chose to play Benji Marshall at half.
His utility value also saw the former Newcastle and Parramatta player moved to hooker when Sheens shifted Robbie Farah from the nine jersey to the seven.
Injuries to Marshall often saw Morris in the halves and as the chief playmaker whilst the likes of Tim Moltzen found his feet in the top grade.
It was only late into this season that Morris was moved back to the interchange bench to fill the utility role after Sheens put Marshall and Moltzen in the halves. The past few weeks has seen Moltzen go back to full-back to allow Sheens to blood rising half Robert Lui in the seven jersey.
A minor knee injury sees Lui miss the Bulldogs game, allowing Morris to have one last hurrah with Marshall in the halves.
An upbeat Morris says he was happy with his performance at half-back.
“If you look back at the games where I started at half-back, we won a fair few of them,’’ Morris said.
“People seem to forget too that I lost Benji to a long term injury in 2007 and Brett Hodgson for a fair while there. If you take out any two key players like that in any side, the side is going to struggle.
“I also played a fair bit at hooker as well which I have been really happy with. I couldn’t really shed that utility tag that I had in the early part of my career.
“I guess it can be a real strength to have and the fact that I haven’t missed a game for the club means I have been real handy for the coach to have.’’
When Morris plays his 72nd straight game for Wests Tigers, he becomes only the second player in the club’s 10 year history to play every game. The first was Prince.
“I am very proud to have achieved this. You really don’t set many goals to play every game every year. You just take it as it comes,’’ Morris said, with a smile.
“It is not all about having a bit of good luck. It is also about being consistent. You are not going to play every game of the season if you are out of form. It is about being professional with your preparation and treating your injuries.
“I’m really pleased I have come here and given the club good value and played every game.
“It has been a fantastic experience, a massive learning curve under Tim. I’ve built friendships that I will have for life. And it has been such a pleasure to play for a club with fantastic tradition in the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs Magpies.
“I’ve grown as a person and as a player. I will go forward in the next part of my life and just be thankful for this experience.’’