Adrian Morley
Encyclopedia
Adrian Morley is an English professional rugby league
footballer for the Warrington Wolves
of Europe's Super League
. A Great Britain and England international representative prop forward, he previously played for the Leeds Rhinos
(winning the Challenge Cup
with them in 1999), Australia's Sydney Roosters
(with whom he won the 2002 NRL Premiership) and Bradford Bulls
(with whom he won the 2005 Super League X
Championship), before moving to Warrington (with whom he won the Challenge Cup
in 2009 and 2010).
between 1996 and 2000. Although also eligible for the Welsh national team
, he made his England
and Great Britain
debuts in 1996.
In the 1997 post season, Morley was selected to play for Great Britain
in all three matches of the Super League Test series
against Australia.
Morley won the Challenge Cup
with Leeds in 1999 when they defeated the London Broncos 52 - 16 at Wembley Stadium. He was offered a chance to play alongside his brother Chris Morley
in the 2000 World Cup
, who played for Wales but chose to commit to England
.
, who was coaching the Sydney Roosters in Australia. After taking twelve months to fully acclimatise, the tough, hard line forward was a central figure in Roosters' twelfth Premiership in 2002 - their first in twenty-seven years. The Sydney Roosters defeated the New Zealand Warriors
30 - 8 at Telstra Stadium
.
The following year Morley played in the second row for the Roosters in the 2003 NRL grand final
which was lost to the Penrith Panthers
.
In the 2003 Ashes
series against Australia, Morley was sent off after just 12 seconds of the opening match for a high tackle on Robbie Kearns
. This is the fastest dismissal in the history of Test rugby league.
In a round 20 match towards the end of his final season (2006) with the Roosters, Morley was sent off after attempting to knee Bulldogs player Corey Hughes
in the face as the player attempted to play the ball. Afterwards he was suspended by the NRL judiciary and the Sydney Roosters released him from his contract. He returned to the UK before the season's end. Morley had helped Sydney Roosters to a World Club Challenge
title as well as two further Grand Final
appearances before rejoining English club, Warrington Wolves. He is one of only eight Englishmen to have played in Australian National Rugby League
Grand Final
winning teams.
Morley is the only player to win Great Britain
caps whilst at the Sydney Roosters
, although Phil Clarke
had won England
caps whilst at the Sydney City Roosters
.
With a property in Sydney's eastern beach suburbs, and an Australian partner, rumours are rife that Morley will return to Australia to retire in the sun at the end of his career - not before playing a season or two to conclude his top flight profession as a Rugby League player, with the Sydney Roosters
.
, Super League
and also winning the Rugby League Challenge Cup
.
In late 2005, although still contracted to the Roosters; Morley joined Bradford
at the backend of the season and helped them to claim the Super League championship against his old team Leeds.
, beginning in 2006.
He made his Warrington
debut against Wigan
on 9 February 2007 but lasted only 37 minutes after an accidental clash of heads with Wigan's
Eamon O'Carroll
which resulted in Morley having surgery on a fractured eye socket.
Five rounds later Morley made his home debut and comeback against Hull Kingston Rovers
. Another clash of heads resulted in Morley leaving the field after only 16 minutes with a displaced fracture of the left cheekbone. He captained the Great Britain test side that faced France in 2007.
He was also appointed captain of Warrington.
He was named in the 24-man England squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
and also played against Wales
at Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
prior to England's departure.
Adrian guided Warrington to Challenge Cup glory in 2009, beating Huddersfield
in the final at Wembley.
He was selected to play for England against France in the one-off test in 2010.
Morley captained Warrington
in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final victory over Leeds
.
Morley was to lead England in the 2010 Four Nations
but was ruled out after injuring himself in a warm up match against the New Zealand Māori rugby league team
.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer for the Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
of Europe's Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
. A Great Britain and England international representative prop forward, he previously played for the Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
(winning the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
with them in 1999), Australia's Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
(with whom he won the 2002 NRL Premiership) and Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
(with whom he won the 2005 Super League X
Super League X
engage Super League X is the official name of 2005's Super League season. It was the 10th season of Super League and saw twelve teams from across England compete for the premiership. The season kicked off in early February, culminating in a six team play-off seriesThe Grand Final, held at Old...
Championship), before moving to Warrington (with whom he won the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
in 2009 and 2010).
Leeds
Morley played for LeedsLeeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
between 1996 and 2000. Although also eligible for the Welsh national team
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
, he made his England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
and Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
debuts in 1996.
In the 1997 post season, Morley was selected to play for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
in all three matches of the Super League Test series
Super League Test series
The Super League Test series was a three-Test match series between the Great Britain national rugby league team and Super League's Australian national team held during November 1997 in England...
against Australia.
Morley won the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
with Leeds in 1999 when they defeated the London Broncos 52 - 16 at Wembley Stadium. He was offered a chance to play alongside his brother Chris Morley
Chris Morley
Christopher "Chris" Morley is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who at representative level has played for Wales, and at club level for St. Helens, Warrington Wolves, Salford City Reds, Sheffield Eagles, Leigh Centurions, Oldham Roughyeds, Halifax, and Swinton...
in the 2000 World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
, who played for Wales but chose to commit to England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
.
Sydney Roosters
In 2001 Morley agreed to join former Leeds coach Graham MurrayGraham Murray
Graham Murray is an Australian rugby league player and coach. Murray is currently the High Performance Unit Director of Coaching at the Newcastle Knights.-Playing career:...
, who was coaching the Sydney Roosters in Australia. After taking twelve months to fully acclimatise, the tough, hard line forward was a central figure in Roosters' twelfth Premiership in 2002 - their first in twenty-seven years. The Sydney Roosters defeated the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
30 - 8 at Telstra Stadium
Telstra Stadium
Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay...
.
The following year Morley played in the second row for the Roosters in the 2003 NRL grand final
2003 NRL grand final
The 2003 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding match of the 2003 NRL season. In what was a contest of Sydney's east versus west, defending premiers and match favourites, the Sydney Roosters played against minor premiers and underdogs, the Penrith Panthers...
which was lost to the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
.
In the 2003 Ashes
Rugby League Ashes
The Ashes is the name given to the trophy awarded to the winner of a best-of-three series of rugby league football test series between Great Britain and Australia...
series against Australia, Morley was sent off after just 12 seconds of the opening match for a high tackle on Robbie Kearns
Robbie Kearns
Robbie Kearns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer in the National Rugby League competition whose senior career began with the Cronulla Sharks. He represented New South Wales in State of Origin and Australia in international matches. His position of choice was at Prop Forward...
. This is the fastest dismissal in the history of Test rugby league.
In a round 20 match towards the end of his final season (2006) with the Roosters, Morley was sent off after attempting to knee Bulldogs player Corey Hughes
Corey Hughes
Corey Hughes is an Australian rugby league player for the Cronulla Sharks club in the National Rugby League competition. He previously played eleven seasons for the Bulldogs...
in the face as the player attempted to play the ball. Afterwards he was suspended by the NRL judiciary and the Sydney Roosters released him from his contract. He returned to the UK before the season's end. Morley had helped Sydney Roosters to a World Club Challenge
World Club Challenge
The World Club Challenge is an annual rugby league football match held between the champions of the Australasian National Rugby League and the European Super League competitions to determine the world's best rugby league club...
title as well as two further Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
appearances before rejoining English club, Warrington Wolves. He is one of only eight Englishmen to have played in Australian National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
winning teams.
Morley is the only player to win Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
caps whilst at the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
, although Phil Clarke
Phil Clarke
Phil Clarke is an English rugby league football commentator and former professional player of the 1980s and 90s. A Great Britain and England international representative loose forward, he spent his club career with Wigan, as well as a stint in Australia with the Sydney Roosters.Phil Clarke is the...
had won England
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
caps whilst at the Sydney City Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
.
With a property in Sydney's eastern beach suburbs, and an Australian partner, rumours are rife that Morley will return to Australia to retire in the sun at the end of his career - not before playing a season or two to conclude his top flight profession as a Rugby League player, with the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
.
Bradford
In 2005 Adrian Morley became the first Englishman to complete the 'rugby league trifecta', winning Premierships in both the National Rugby LeagueNational Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
, Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
and also winning the Rugby League Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
.
In late 2005, although still contracted to the Roosters; Morley joined Bradford
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
at the backend of the season and helped them to claim the Super League championship against his old team Leeds.
Warrington
Morley signed a 4 year deal with WarringtonWarrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
, beginning in 2006.
He made his Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
debut against Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
on 9 February 2007 but lasted only 37 minutes after an accidental clash of heads with Wigan's
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
Eamon O'Carroll
Eamon O'Carroll
Eamon O'Carroll is a rugby league player for Wigan Warriors. Eamon progressed through the Wigan academy at Wigan Warriors in after signing for the club in 2002 from Waterhead RL to eventually find himself playing prop during the 2005 and 2006 seasons....
which resulted in Morley having surgery on a fractured eye socket.
Five rounds later Morley made his home debut and comeback against Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
. Another clash of heads resulted in Morley leaving the field after only 16 minutes with a displaced fracture of the left cheekbone. He captained the Great Britain test side that faced France in 2007.
He was also appointed captain of Warrington.
He was named in the 24-man England squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
and also played against Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
at Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
prior to England's departure.
Adrian guided Warrington to Challenge Cup glory in 2009, beating Huddersfield
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
in the final at Wembley.
He was selected to play for England against France in the one-off test in 2010.
Morley captained Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final victory over Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
.
Morley was to lead England in the 2010 Four Nations
2010 Rugby League Four Nations
The 2010 Rugby League Four Nations tournament was played in Australia and New Zealand in October and November 2010. The tournament was the second time the Four Nations had been held, following on from the 2009 edition held in England and France....
but was ruled out after injuring himself in a warm up match against the New Zealand Māori rugby league team
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
.
External links
- Warrington Wolves profile
- 2001 Ashes profile
- Article - Morley set for footy grand slam
- Morley to captain Great Britain
- Ryles can overcome injury, and I should know: Morley
- Morley hoping for Seventh Heaven - article at manchestereveningnews.co.uk
- Profile at leedsrugby
- International Statistics at englandrl.co.uk
- Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org