Start wagging your tails in excitement Bulldogs fans - your prized signing is set to make his long-awaited debut in blue and white in Saturday week's trial against the Storm in Melbourne.
Former Dragons winger Brett Morris has recently commenced full-contact training after summer surgery on his shoulder and is now a confirmed starter in the club's final pre-season hit-out next weekend.
"Yeah, back to full contact, full training. Everything went well with the shoulder, all the rehab and whatnot, so it's ready for the challenge," Morris told NRL.com during a visit to Campsie Public School as part of the annual NRL Community Carnival on Monday.
"I'll be up for the trial in two weeks against Melbourne. Obviously we just had that little one on the weekend but a lot of guys didn't play in that one.
"Now we've got our first one, which we'll be taking a fair side to, against Melbourne and I'll be a part of that. That's exciting for me, getting a bit of game time under my belt and running out there with the new guys."
Just what position the NSW and Kangaroos winger will play exactly, remains to be seen.
While many assume he will slot into the fullback spot, the 28-year-old refused to divulge where he'll be stationed in order to appease his new coach.
"I'm just following Des's orders and doing whatever he's telling me at the moment. I don't want to get on his wrong side. I've seen him when he's cranky," Morris joked.
"We'll have to wait and see. It's still up in the air. I've trained in a fair few positions at the club and I'm just happy to play wherever. Round 1 we'll see where I'm going."
After nine pre-seasons in Wollongong, Morris was warned by twin brother Josh of the rigorous summer under the watchful eye of Hasler.
But not even the sage advice from his sibling prepared him enough for the miles he has put into his legs over the past few weeks.
"He told me there was a fair bit of running and I thought it couldn't be that bad. But there's been a lot," he said.
"It's probably a bit more running than I've done in the past, but I think I got a bit looked after there at the Dragons. Being the new kid on the block here, there are no favours here. But it's been enjoyable and I've really looked forward to coming to training each day."
And it hasn't just been tough for the new recruit. Still smarting from their grand final defeat to South Sydney last October, Morris said Hasler had upped the ante in recent weeks in a bid to make what would be the Bulldogs' third grand final in four years.
"Obviously being in two of the last three grand finals and losing them, there are a lot of guys there who are hurting. I think it's going to get the boys to go even harder and be better this year," Morris said.
"Certainly with the training that's been happening, the guys are not resting on their laurels. They're saying that this pre-season's been harder than any that they've done before. That's a good thing for them. They're ready to rip in and go again."
This article first appeared on NRL.com
