Josh Morris will become the 40th member of the NRL’s 300-club on Saturday night, but there’s an even smaller group of five he desperately wants to avoid.
Those to have played 300-plus games, but finished their career without a premiership.
Thirteen years after he debuted as an 89kg fullback for St George Illawarra, Morris will beat his brother Brett to No.300 on Saturday in Canberra.
In that time he’s gone from a young sensation to a State of Origin hero for NSW, been Canterbury’s most reliable and now become a jewel in the Sydney Roosters’ backline.
By his own admission he’s no longer as quick, but what he’s lost in pace he’s more than made up for in game sense and wisdom.
But after all of it, it’d be a rugby league injustice if Morris finished without a title.
“It’s been a massive driver my whole career,” Morris said .
“Towards the back end of my career it’s the main reason I get up in the morning and compete against these younger fellas.
“I want to taste that success. It’s the last thing I’ve got to tick off in my career.
“It’s only made me hungrier in these last few years.”
Morris though can partly thank his twin if the drought is broken this year.
A dream to finish their careers together brought him to the Roosters from Cronulla when Billy Smith went down, and a title playing together looks realistic.
The two remain as thick as thieves but as competitive as anything.
For most their career they have had a case of beer riding on who scored the most tries each season, before claims the other failed to pay up.
They also joke of a “favourite son cup”, which Josh claims has been his since childhood.
“We instilled that (competitive nature) in each other at a young age,” Josh said.
“It’s kept us in good stead through our whole career.
“No matter what the scoreline is we’ve tried to compete.
“And as we’ve got older we’ve tried to compete with the younger kids and keep up with them.”
For all the competition, there is mutual admiration.
When the pair parted ways at Canterbury at the end of 2018, they thought they’d played their last game together.
Now they look likely to play into 2021, making next season their last.
“It will be a very special weekend for the family,” Brett said.
“You know what you’re going to get when J-Moz runs out on the field.
“He knows what he is going to do defensively. He’s one of those specialist centres who prides himself on shutting the opposition down.
“And when he gets the ball, and J-Moz is on, he’s a beast.”
© AAP
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