Morris can't believe he's a Kangaroo
Brett Morris' goal at the start of the year was both simple and daunting - to find a way past a pair of international wingers into the St George Illawarra NRL side.
As he stood on the flank for the Dragons' NSW Cup feeder side Shellharbour back in March, the task of unseating Wendell Sailor and Jason Nightingale must have seemed huge.
Now just days out from Australia's opening match of the Four Nations tournament, Morris is still pinching himself at the amazing ride which has propelled him into a Kangaroos jumper for Saturday night's clash with New Zealand in London.
"It's a long way from Shellharbour and Ron Costello Oval to here," said Morris after learning of his looming Test debut.
"I just can't wait - I'm over the moon. I had to pinch myself during the day.
"I started the year in reserve grade so from where I was to where I am now, it's like a roller coaster.
"I'm on a massive high and I can't wait to get out there on Saturday night."
His run with Shellharbour in the opening round proved to be just the start of a season of ebbs and flows.
The following week against Gold Coast he was an unused substitute on the Dragons interchange bench.
Finally he was given a crack against Cronulla in round three and from there he continued to find the tryline with monotonous regularity, the NSW south coast junior coming up with multiple four pointers in six matches and finishing as the NRL's leading try scorer.
It wasn't enough to earn him a start in the NSW Origin side - with twin brother Josh getting the jump on him there - and it didn't seem to impress Test selectors all that much either after he was left out of the initial 24-man Kangaroos squad for the Four Nations.
But an injury to Israel Folau opened the door for a late call-up to the touring party, Morris jumping the queue ahead of brother Josh and Penrith centre Michael Jennings to go straight into the Australian side where he will line-up outside Melbourne star Greg Inglis.
"Watching him week in week out, he's just a freak," Morris said of Inglis.
"To have that chance to play outside him is something I'm going to relish.
"You've watched these guys the last few years, you just watch them dominate.
"You always wish you can play outside an Inglis or a Hodges - I've got my chance now."
He's also got bragging rights when he Josh make the occasional trek back down south for a family dinner.
"Obviously he gave me a fair bit of ribbing when he played State of Origin first, but I've got this one on him now - I'll just leave it at that."
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