Des Hasler has indicated Canterbury will make Brett Morris available for Australian’s end of season Four Nations campaign.
After missing much of the NRL season with a knee injury, the Bulldogs ace said he would leave a decision on his Kangaroos availability up to his club.
However Hasler said on Tuesday that Morris’s performances over the final seven weeks of the NRL season and how far Canterbury progress in the final series will likely have the biggest influence on whether the in-form winger would earn selection in coach Mal Meninga’s Australian squad.
“I think the players and who they have available it (selection) will come back to the Australia selectors and Mal,” Hasler said at Sydney Airport.
“But you tend to find that the sides that go deep into the semi-finals, they are the players who get the nod apart from the incumbents who have their places guaranteed.
“Brett is in great form at the moment and he is a great finisher.”
Morris has again emerged as one of the NRL’s leading wingers after missing two thirds of the season due to a knee injury picked up in the NRL pre-season.
He scored two tries in the Bulldogs 20-16 win over Manly last week to take his tally to nine tries from seven games this season.
Hasler said the Bulldogs were confident Morris’s knee dramas were behind him.
“It has been a carefully planned and managed comeback for him,” Hasler said.
“He has ticked every single box in the rehab plan that was hatched for him.”
Canterbury’s top four hopes go on the line when they face Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night in the opening match of round 24.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
More media management than mind games I think. Smart on his part if that is what he's doing either way.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
So - just some more of Dessies mind games then.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Perhaps there's some intelligence to making Morris a focal point for attention though, the Bulldogs can't really fly under the radar and of the players available he's one of the more experienced and better suited to being scrutinised -- can't really say much about either twin that's both negative and even approaching the truth.
MAX
Guest
There are reports that Milford may not play after having to cancel a training run. If that were true it may remove the HG advantage from the equation. This will be close. This will be a bone shaker, rattler and roller. BP monitors will get a workout. One thing is certain, Corey Oates with be subjected to a bomb blitz. Archer has sent his best man to Suncorp. How goes the penalty count goes the game.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
What is Des on about. This isn't flying under the radar style at all.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah...with Dugan, Radradra and Feeguson as the incumbents in the three quarters Morris must be a lay down misere.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Never doubt the great mans influence.
1st&10
Guest
Didn't know Des was a selector. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
If he can't get in ahead of Ferguson, I think we all know Meninga is taking the mickey...