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Josh Morris is part of the Blues' senior leadership group, but in the strongest indication he will be overlooked for Origin, he has not heard from NSW coach Laurie Daley.
Morris is believed to be on the verge of losing his position this year, with Josh Dugan set to get the nod at right centre.
Daley has been in regular contact with several of the Blues' key players throughout this season – including Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah and Paul Gallen – but less than two weeks from the naming of the team for Origin one, 29-year-old Bulldogs centre Morris still has not heard from the NSW coach.
Selection struggle: Blues centre Josh Morris. Photo: Getty Images
Fairfax Media understands Daley expressed his preferred combination for the Blues' right edge to Australian coach Mal Meninga, who decided to go with Dugan and Blake Ferguson for the one-off Test in Newcastle last Friday night.
Morris, along with many of his Bulldogs teammates, has struggled for form to start 2016 and is now in danger of losing his Blues jersey, despite his unquestionable commitment to the Origin team in recent years.
"I haven't had any dialogue with Laurie," Morris said. "That's up to him whether he wants to call the players or not. I'm more focused about these next three games for the Bulldogs coming up and setting us up for the Origin period."
Waiting for Laurie: NSW centre Josh Morris scores a try during game two of the 2015 series. Photo: Quinn Rooney
While it's still a possibility Morris could be picked on the left wing, it seems certain Daley will opt for Dugan and Ferguson on the right edge, with Parramatta's Michael Jennings at left centre.
The left-wing position is still up for grabs, with Josh Mansour and James Roberts being discussed as potential Origin debutants if Morris is left out.
However, it is Daley's desire to get a ball-playing fullback into his side that is set to see Morris overlooked for Dugan, with Matt Moylan and Lachlan Coote battling it out for the No.1 jersey.
"I'm not too worried. I do know Duges, he's a good bloke," Morris said. "He plays his best football in Origin no matter where he is. He's dynamic and always seems to step up in those types of games. He'll definitely be in the side, it's just a matter of where.
"I'm not going to worry about Origin too much at the moment. I think the next three weeks is important to set up our season.
"We have three Sunday games against three quality teams. If we can come out of that with more wins than losses, we'll set ourselves up well for that Origin period. If I'm playing good football during that period, I'll give myself a chance to make the team."
Morris has been phenomenal for NSW in recent seasons, putting his name in the history books when he picked himself off the deck to chase down Greg Inglis despite suffering a major knee injury just a few seconds earlier.
On the morning of game two last year he was unable to walk because of a neck injury. However, he battled through the pain to help NSW level the series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Perhaps his finest contribution has been the way in which he has shut down Inglis.
"I think they probably will put Greg back to the centres," Morris said of the Queensland team. "Someone has to do a job on him, whether it's me or Duges or any other person there that puts their hand up. I'm sure they won't let anyone down."
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/canterbury-bulldogs-josh-morris-may-miss-out-on-nsw-state-of-origin-team-20160510-gorxuo.html#ixzz48SAV3A11
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/canterbury-bulldogs-josh-morris-may-miss-out-on-nsw-state-of-origin-team-20160510-gorxuo.html#ixzz48SAJyxb1
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
Morris is believed to be on the verge of losing his position this year, with Josh Dugan set to get the nod at right centre.
Daley has been in regular contact with several of the Blues' key players throughout this season – including Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah and Paul Gallen – but less than two weeks from the naming of the team for Origin one, 29-year-old Bulldogs centre Morris still has not heard from the NSW coach.
Selection struggle: Blues centre Josh Morris. Photo: Getty Images
Fairfax Media understands Daley expressed his preferred combination for the Blues' right edge to Australian coach Mal Meninga, who decided to go with Dugan and Blake Ferguson for the one-off Test in Newcastle last Friday night.
Morris, along with many of his Bulldogs teammates, has struggled for form to start 2016 and is now in danger of losing his Blues jersey, despite his unquestionable commitment to the Origin team in recent years.
"I haven't had any dialogue with Laurie," Morris said. "That's up to him whether he wants to call the players or not. I'm more focused about these next three games for the Bulldogs coming up and setting us up for the Origin period."
Waiting for Laurie: NSW centre Josh Morris scores a try during game two of the 2015 series. Photo: Quinn Rooney
While it's still a possibility Morris could be picked on the left wing, it seems certain Daley will opt for Dugan and Ferguson on the right edge, with Parramatta's Michael Jennings at left centre.
The left-wing position is still up for grabs, with Josh Mansour and James Roberts being discussed as potential Origin debutants if Morris is left out.
However, it is Daley's desire to get a ball-playing fullback into his side that is set to see Morris overlooked for Dugan, with Matt Moylan and Lachlan Coote battling it out for the No.1 jersey.
"I'm not too worried. I do know Duges, he's a good bloke," Morris said. "He plays his best football in Origin no matter where he is. He's dynamic and always seems to step up in those types of games. He'll definitely be in the side, it's just a matter of where.
"I'm not going to worry about Origin too much at the moment. I think the next three weeks is important to set up our season.
"We have three Sunday games against three quality teams. If we can come out of that with more wins than losses, we'll set ourselves up well for that Origin period. If I'm playing good football during that period, I'll give myself a chance to make the team."
Morris has been phenomenal for NSW in recent seasons, putting his name in the history books when he picked himself off the deck to chase down Greg Inglis despite suffering a major knee injury just a few seconds earlier.
On the morning of game two last year he was unable to walk because of a neck injury. However, he battled through the pain to help NSW level the series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Perhaps his finest contribution has been the way in which he has shut down Inglis.
"I think they probably will put Greg back to the centres," Morris said of the Queensland team. "Someone has to do a job on him, whether it's me or Duges or any other person there that puts their hand up. I'm sure they won't let anyone down."
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/canterbury-bulldogs-josh-morris-may-miss-out-on-nsw-state-of-origin-team-20160510-gorxuo.html#ixzz48SAV3A11
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/canterbury-bulldogs-josh-morris-may-miss-out-on-nsw-state-of-origin-team-20160510-gorxuo.html#ixzz48SAJyxb1
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
