Morris calls it quits

SYDNEY: Brett Morris knew almost the moment he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in Newcastle last month that it would be the last match of his career.An emotional Morris hung up the boots at the age of 34 yesterday at the Sydney Cricket Ground, bringing to a close one of the great rugby league careers.Morris’s 276th NRL game in round eight was his first as Roosters captain but ended in disaster when he suffered an ACL rupture late in the win over the Knights.“You never want to go out the way I did with the injury,” he said. “But if you told me 15 years ago, you put a contract in front of me and said I was going to play 270 games, win a couple of premierships, play for my state and my country but it was going to end up on a night in Newcastle without my family there and I was going to blow out my knee, I’d still say ‘where do I sign’.“I wouldn’t change a thing, I’ve loved every minute of my career.”Faced with a recovery of at least nine months in what was already likely to be his final season, Morris decided to draw the curtain on a glittering career. Surrounded by his teammates and Roosters coaching staff as well as his family including twin brother Josh, wife and three children, Morris got a bit teary as he confirmed now was the right time to hang up the boots.“I’ve had a wonderful career spanning 16 seasons,” he said.“I started as a skinny young kid and finished as an old man with a couple of kids. “My rugby league journey has been a wonderful ride. “It’s been a long ride, a long journey. “The playing part has come to an end but hopefully my journey in rugby league is not finished yet.”He paid special thanks to his mother and siblings and expressed gratitude for having been able to share the right with Josh from their backyard to the biggest stage. “Josh, you’ve been there the whole way mate since we were four years old and all we wanted to do was play NRL,” he said. “To have a brother and best mate go about our journey together, it’s been a wonderful thing and so many great memories.” – NRL