Slippery Morro set to be an Eel
By ADAM GARDINI
12jul04
LINGERING State-of-Origin ambitions and family ties proved the deciding factor for departing North Queensland Cowboys backrower Glenn Morrison to stay in the National Rugby League.
Morrison, who signed a three-year deal with the Parramatta Eels on Saturday, revealed he came close to leaving the NRL for English Super League club Bradford - with negotiations continuing even as late as Friday night.
However, unfinished business in Australia along with the added bonus of moving closer to family and friends in Sydney and the Central Coast tilted the scales.
"If the Bradford (three-year) offer had've been down on paper and the entry visa guaranteed a week earlier I would have gone to Bradford," Morrison revealed yesterday.
"But I've still got hopes of playing Origin and I want to play 200 first-grade games."
Morrison is the fourth high-profile player to be lured to the Eels over the past month - joining Newcastle winger Timana Tahu, St George Illawarra hooker Mark Riddell and South Sydney prop Paul Stringer.
The 28-year-old, who joined the Cowboys in 2000, said he was looking forward to his future with the Eels, particularly under Brian Smith, who was Morrison's coach for Country Origin in 2001.
"They've got a good team and they've got some good signings," he said.
It is understood Morrison's contract has a get-out clause enabling him to leave Parramatta in the final year of the three-year term.
Meanwhile, X-rays last Friday on the two fractured vertebrae in Morrison's back revealed the injury was healing well and he said he hoped to be back in training with the Cowboys within the next two weeks.
Morrison said he was keen to continue his involvement with the Cowboys in any way he could until the end of the season, given it was extremely unlikely he would be able to take the field in North Queensland colours again.
With Morrison departing at the end of the season, along with seasoned backrower Kevin Campion and no-fuss prop Jamie McDonald, the Cowboys have secured Souths' goalkicking second-rower Justin Smith.
Cowboys football manager Peter Parr said the Cowboys were still in the market for another good-quality forward.
