Rugby league’s worst kept secret has been confirmed, with the Bulldogs officially announcing the signing of Dragons superstar Brett Morris.
Hilariously, the Dogs trumpeted the signing in front of a ‘born and bred’ backdrop, despite the fact that both Morris brothers are Dragons juniors and were poached from the joint-venture side.
Bulldogs fans, although they had expected this decision, were barking loud, proclaiming their side to be the early favourites to win next season’s competition.
Meanwhile, fans of the Red V took to social media to express their disgust at letting perhaps their best attacking weapon join the Dogs.
Anger was directed solidly at the board and CEO Peter Doust, who Dragons fans see as responsible for the current cap issues that have led to the NSW winger’s departure.
#OustDoust was a favourite among disgruntled Dragons fans throughout last season, however slightly stronger wording is being used now.
There have been multiple reports that the Dragons face salary cap issues after the signing of Benji Marshall and the reported backflip of backrower Joel Thompson’s intentions to return to Canberra.
The pain may yet get worse as Gerard Beale, Jason Nightingale, Adam Quinlan and Dylan Walker have also been reported to be in discussions with other clubs.
Last season the Dragons had one of the best backlines in the competition, chock full of rep experience and talent, but they were often dominated in the forwards. As good as Trent Merrin and Co. are, they lacked the size and grunt to match it with the bigger packs such as the Roosters, Bunnies and Dogs.
Money needs to be redirected into new signings up front, and unfortunately Brett Morris was the first casualty of the cap situation. Being linked to big men Russell Packer and George Rose hasn’t eased fans’ concerns.
Surely the club now has to hang on to Nightingale, who despite his reported wage, is among the best finishers in the game. He’d walk into a number of backlines in the competition if he was requested to move on. Beale, Quinlan and Farrell look the most likely to transfer, with the Warriors, Titans, Sharks and Raiders all mentioned as potential suitors.
There is no doubt moves have to be made to strengthen their forward pack. However fans are within their rights to vent at cap miscalculations after seeing Brett Morris walk into a side containing both Origin halves, Josh Morris, and James Graham, among others.
With the pain set to get worse, Dragons fans are sure to make their feelings known.
Craig Watson
Guest
Widdop has worked wonders you mean. There is as yet, no partnershp. Marshall can not even throw a clean ball and his defense is hopeless. A waste of money with which we could have bought some good first tier players.
Craig Watson
Guest
I am puzzled, as a lot my fellow Dragon supporters must be, as to why Doust did not sack Joel Thompson for allegedly putting the club in such a dire financial position when he reportedly renigged about returning to the Raiders for the 2015 season.
Craig Watson
Guest
You are right the Morris boys are Steelers juniors as is Dean Young... but both had famous St George players as fathers. The twins and Dean became Dragons, as far as a long time supporter like me is concerned, when they came under the umbrella of the St George Illawarra franchise. They were as much part of the Dragons fabric as Steve Morris and Craig Young were 30 years ago.
Craig Watson
Guest
I would like to claim some credits for the OUST DOUSE campaign. As blog writer Cricketragic and a 50 year Dragon supporter I urged disgruntled supporters to mount a huge social media protest against the CEO. Hope it is having some effect and Doust and his cronies chuck it in ASAP. To not have the Morrris boys finish their careers where it all began as fresh faced 19 year olds, is an absolute disgrace.
Tricky Ricky
Guest
Peter Doust has to go for orchestrating the current debacle at the Dragons. The cries of "Oust Doust" by Dragons supporters will grow bigger and louder until this Muppet is gone.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
The whole "local junior" thing is so arbitrary it's really not worth discussing; is a local junior a guy born there, a guy who played under 8s, under 16s, under 18s, under 20s, what? Plus when you account for the non-NSWRL clubs having vastly different junior arrangements.. I mean do the Warriors get to claim all of NZ as their junior catchment?
Daniel Nichols
Roar Guru
haha thanks James, I think :-p I have to admit I laughed at the irony, but I totally get the true meaning behind it.
JayBob
Guest
Lol, I think it's the same guy that wrote the Bulldogs "season preview" last year, which was not a season preview at all. It should have been called "How many no talent bums the Dogs have bought from the Dragons in 100 years of Rugby League". Who are Holdsworth, Millard and Te Maari and why is he STILL sore about it? If the Dragons ever lost a player like Thurston or SBW imagine the outcry. I sympathise with most Dragons fans about Brett Morris, I definitely don't about the 3 mentioned above, and I don't about Josh either because they are the ones who wouldn't give him a first grade gig.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
It's got to be close to 10 years now Dragons fans have been saying " Oust Doust " ! With there salary cap issues they probably didn't have much of a choice but to let go of there favourite son, as hard as it would have been. They need to sign a couple of decent forwards particularly a prop. Glad the twins get to play together again.
JayBob
Guest
You know that a large portion of players in the comp wouldn't even come from one of the 16 teams junior area's? What about all the Country players, Kiwi's and other islanders? Where do they fit into this import rule? League is not going to stop producing talent. I don't know how it would be cheaper to buy an established star. It might be easier, with less effort and time, but it's going to cost more to get those players to your club, and you miss out on having a great player at a reduced price. Manly won a premiership with DCE and how much do you think he was on at that stage? They could never have fit that team around him if they bought him. Anyway, I just don't really get the whole local junior thing, it's pretty irrelevant these days with more and more players coming from other area's.
JayBob
Guest
Exactly Gabby, it's a membership campaign. The amount of research required to find this out is visiting the Bulldogs website.
Doug Graves
Guest
"There have been multiple reports that the Dragons face salary cap issues after the signing of Benji Marshall" ROFLMAO!
steelman
Guest
The Morris brothers are Steelers juniors, not St George. They're from Kiama. Is it no wonder most of the Illawarra players are leaving the Dragons, their side is getting no recognition at all. At least the Tigers represent both Wests and Balmain (though more so Balmain a lot of the time)
steelman
Guest
From Kogarah? St Merge is not St George.
Shouts Chen
Guest
This is similar to the Sonny Bill Williams (Bulldogs) v Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs).
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bulldgos vs Dragons rd 1 on Sunday Afternoon at Kograh sounds good to me in 2015. What an atmosphere that would be! NRL have to look into this!
dubblebubble
Guest
They still have no creativity in the spine and Mick Ennis leaving is gonna be a big loss.
Luke M
Guest
Matty Moylan will be NSW fullback next year, and the next several years after that.
tigerdave
Guest
I think Rod Bulldog was having a shot at the Saints Mastermind. Wingers are a dime a dozen these days. There is an embarrasing amount of quality wingers in the competition. Look at a year ago, Koribete and Uate were almost superstars and at the end of the year they couldn't get a ruun for their club. Big George, I reckon if he had to run 20m for a run to the line, he'd need a cut lunch and a waterbag. Imagine him doing a Morris or Simona dive through the air to score.. He"d kill himself, and I reckon anyone else attemting to tackle him. Leave George on the bench.
tigerdave
Guest
It's sad that two St George brothers with family attachments to the club depart for anothet club. I guess that's the nature of the sport. They need Geoff Toovey to have an investigation there. Truly, look at the team they have and tell me how that list can blow out the salary cap. That is really bad management and there needs to be someone held to account for it. Paying iovers for Benji Marshall on a wing and a prayer may well have clicked the turnstiles in the short term, but in the long term who will pay to watch basically a NSW cup side mix it with the likes of Easts, Souths and Brisbane. Widdop was a fantastic buy and they shou;d build a team around him, but value for money players are needed. This must be so bad for team morale. New Caoch but no team to coach. This once proud club is going to be also rans next year and for a few more years by the looks of it. Who is responsible, and why are they still there at the club. It shouldn't only be the players going out the door, they should be preceeded by the likes of Peter Doust and other. As a side ciomment, Dylan Walker is a talent and we (Tigers) should snap him up. The Titans could do worse that sign both Beale and Walker if they have the room.