Steve Morris
Encyclopedia
Steve Morris is an Australia
n former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. A state and national representative, his club career was played with the St. George Dragons
and the Eastern Suburbs Roosters
.
Initially a halfback
, Morris came to selectors' attention when playing for the Dapto club. In the 1978 season he gained selection in the New South Wales Country Rugby League
side and was then chosen to represent New South Wales
and Australia. He was the last player to represent Australia from a country club.
In season 1979
Morris joined the St George club and won a premiership in his debut year in the Sydney top grade. In the 1979 Grand Final he took out the Best Player award, the Dave Brown Medal (now known as the Clive Churchill
Medal).
In 1984, under Dragons coach Roy Masters, the speedy halfback made a very successful transition to the Wing
position, that season he was awarded the 'Dally M' medal for winger of the year. He was the NSW Rugby Football League's top try scorer in 1984
.
In all, Morris played 180 games for the Dragons over eight years at the club and whilst he did not represent for Australia again he made further appearances for the New South Wales Blues
under the State of Origin
selection criteria on the wing in game III of 1984
and game I of 1986
.
In 1987 he moved to the Eastern Suburbs
club playing 58 matches over two seasons and winning a third "Dally M Winger of the Year" award. During the Australian off-season Morris enjoyed a successful stint at English
club, Leeds
. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xtBk_DQVyc&feature=related
Steve Morris retired from the game in 1990. His twin sons Brett
and Josh Morris
currently play for St George Illawarra
and Canterbury Bulldogs.
He currently teaches PE at Bomaderry High School on the South Coast.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. A state and national representative, his club career was played with the St. George Dragons
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
and the Eastern Suburbs 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...
.
Initially a halfback
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
, Morris came to selectors' attention when playing for the Dapto club. In the 1978 season he gained selection in the New South Wales Country Rugby League
New South Wales Country Rugby League
-2011 Tier 2 Championships:-History:Newcastle was the first city outside Sydney to start a league competition, being involved in the Sydney Premiership in 1908-09 and then starting their own competition in 1910....
side and was then chosen to represent New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
and Australia. He was the last player to represent Australia from a country club.
In season 1979
New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1979
The 1979 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the seventy-second season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and...
Morris joined the St George club and won a premiership in his debut year in the Sydney top grade. In the 1979 Grand Final he took out the Best Player award, the Dave Brown Medal (now known as the Clive Churchill
Clive Churchill
Clive Bernard Churchill AM was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach of the mid-20th century. An Australian international and New South Wales and Queensland interstate representative fullback, he played the majority of his club football with and later coached the South Sydney Rabbitohs...
Medal).
In 1984, under Dragons coach Roy Masters, the speedy halfback made a very successful transition to the Wing
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
position, that season he was awarded the 'Dally M' medal for winger of the year. He was the NSW Rugby Football League's top try scorer in 1984
New South Wales Rugby League season 1984
The 1984 New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the seventy-seventh season of professional rugby league football in Australia. With the departure of the Newtown Jets from the first grade competition at the close of the previous season, 1984 saw thirteen teams compete for the J J Giltinan...
.
In all, Morris played 180 games for the Dragons over eight years at the club and whilst he did not represent for Australia again he made further appearances for the New South Wales Blues
New South Wales Rugby League team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
under the State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
selection criteria on the wing in game III of 1984
1984 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 1984 State of Origin series was the 3rd annual series contested between the representative rugby league football teams of New South Wales and Queensland under "state of origin" selection rules...
and game I of 1986
1986 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 1986 State of Origin series was the 7th annual 'series contested between New South Wales and Queensland. It was the year that New South Wales finally asserted some dominance and won the series in the first ever 3-0 Origin whitewash...
.
In 1987 he moved to the Eastern Suburbs
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...
club playing 58 matches over two seasons and winning a third "Dally M Winger of the Year" award. During the Australian off-season Morris enjoyed a successful stint at English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
club, 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...
. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xtBk_DQVyc&feature=related
Steve Morris retired from the game in 1990. His twin sons Brett
Brett Morris
Brett Morris is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the St. George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative winger, he is the son of St...
and Josh Morris
Josh Morris
Josh Morris is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League competition. A New South Wales State of Origin representative backline player, Josh is the twin brother of Brett Morris who plays first grade for his previous club...
currently play for St George Illawarra
St George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
and Canterbury Bulldogs.
He currently teaches PE at Bomaderry High School on the South Coast.
Sources
- Whiticker, AlanAlan WhitickerAlan J. Whiticker is an Australian non-fiction author with currently over 30 published books.Whiticker writes primarily on matters pertaining to the history of the sport of rugby league in Australia, but has also published works on subjects as diverse as the Wanda Beach Murders and an adaptation...
& Hudson, Glen (2006) The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, Gavin Allen Publishing, Sydney - Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney