Josh Morris

[The Skeez]

And maybe the Roosters could offer to pay for Josh's contract from November 1st.

Could still happen hopefully.

Nailed it Gaz!

[zac]

To cover Moylans injury. Maybe we should make em a nice cup of tea too.

If they play him round one they can't ask for compensation for carrying him in the off season. They can make their own bloody tea.

[Davo]

Thanks Jack's Fur Coat, I found it.



The Roosters are inching closer to securing Cronulla centre Josh Morris — but only if they pay a six-figure transfer fee and if the Sharks can keep Morris for the early rounds of the NRL season.

After weeks of negotiations and posturing in the media, Roosters chairman Nick Politis and Sharks counterpart Dino Mezzatesta are set to bring the matter to a head in coming days.
Josh Morris has asked for a release from the Sharks - but the club has refused to budge despite salary cap pressures.CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS
The Sharks want a transfer fee after paying four months of Morris’ 2020 contract and this looms as the main sticking point between the two clubs.

The figure is believed to be about $100,000. Whether Politis is prepared to cough up that much is debatable.
The other condition of releasing Morris is that he must turn out for the Sharks in the early rounds — specifically until Matt Moylan recovers from calf and hamstring injuries.
Add to shortlist
Morris has been named at centre for the trial match against Manly at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Sunday night.

Indeed, both clubs have what the other wants.

Cronulla are under enormous pressure to move a player after the NRL slashed $350,000 off their salary cap for this season for repeated cap breaches dating back to 2013.

Ideally, they would like to move on the perennially injured Josh Dugan, who is on upwards of $900,000 a season, but no other club wants him.

They also have to complete their 30-man roster before June 30, so if they move any player on then they will have to sign another on the minimum wage of $75,000.

The club is also aware of the backlash they are set to feel from irate Sharks fans if Morris is squeezed out.

Meanwhile, the Roosters are desperate for a centre following the off-season departure of Latrell Mitchell and the season-ending ACL injury to Billy Smith.

Back-rower Angus Crichton has been turned into a makeshift centre, making his first appearance in the role in the Roosters’ World Club Challenge win over St Helens.

It was difficult for coach Trent Robinson to assess if Crichton will be a success in the role after Crichton was taken from the field during the second half at Totally Wicked Stadium with a head knock.

In telling comments at the Fox Sports season launch earlier this week, though, Roosters fullback James Tedesco said: “In his rugby union days he [Crichton] played a bit of centre but, to be honest, I think he was pretty keen to just lock down back row. He had a strong back-end to the year last year in the back row and he was keen to stay there but we don’t really have many other options.” Add to shortlist
Morris and his management have been aggressively agitating for a release, with the former Kangaroos centre publicly declaring he wants to finish his career alongside twin brother Brett at the Roosters.

He is also disappointed that the Sharks enticed young centre Jesse Ramien back to the club from Newcastle, thereby pushing Morris out to an uncustomary role on the wing.

“They have to move a player no matter what,” Morris’ agent, David Riolo, told the Herald earlier this month. “It was the Sharks that told us to have a look around at the same time they said that to [prop] Matty Prior and a couple of other boys the same thing. Then they turn around and deny it. It's a bit of a slap in the face.”

Neither club wanted to comment on the negotiations when contacted late Friday.

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[Rooster1908]

Transfer fee yes , play early games with Sharks , no way , what happens if he gets injured , what if Moylan takes six weeks to recover , no way go with what we have

[Thirteen]

I think it’s fair we reimburse Sharks for what they have paid him so far if he comes to us.

[Fairfax]

We'll get him. And it will be a good move.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Thanks Davo...its a Webby...before he puts the finishing touches to his costume for tonight.

[Lydon]

Sounds like Nick and Trent have known we would get Morris all along, just finalising the deal.

Also explains the Angus to centre selection knowing at most it will only be a few games..

[QWERTY]

What happens if Dugan retires and we haven’t secured Morris yet?

[Hawkeye]

What happens if Dugan retires and we haven’t secured Morris yet?

If Dugan retires, he's not entitled to be paid the balance of his contract …. unless he's medically retired which a last month we were told that is not going to happen. So it's not in his best interest to just retire

[Mickie Lane]

Its bizarre the conditions Cronulla have put on him but it will happen.

[bigben]

Josh Morris is 100% coming to the club for 2020.

[John Corey]

I would love to steal the Penrith centre Naden. I think he is in for a huge year. No doubt Panthers will have him locked up tho.

[Easts75]

No reason defensively if we get Morris why we can't be as strong as last year. This alone puts us in the box seat for another historic season..I am pumped!!!

[zac]

No reason defensively if we get Morris why we can't be as strong as last year. This alone puts us in the box seat for another historic season..I am pumped!!!

Latrell has the big hits but JMoz is probably a sounder defender. The try that the Raiders should have scored in the GF if Leilua had passed only happened cos Latrell was going for the intercept - Latrell created the overlap.