Adrian Morley

Adrian Paul Morley (born 10 May 1977) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop and second-row forward in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. A Great Britain and England international, he played for the Leeds Rhinos (with whom he won the 1999 Challenge Cup), Sydney Roosters (winning the 2002 NRL Premiership and 2003 World Club Challenge), Bradford Bulls (winning Super League X in 2005), Warrington Wolves (winning the 2009, 2010 and 2012 Challenge Cups) and the Salford Red Devils.[4][5][6][7] With a reputation as a tough, uncompromising competitor, Morley was the first British player to win both NRL and Super League championships.

Adrian "Moz" Morley
Personal information
Full nameAdrian Paul Morley[1]
Born (1977-05-10) 10 May 1977[2]
Salford, England
Playing information
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)[3]
Weight16 st 7 lb (105 kg)[3]
PositionProp, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995–00 Leeds Rhinos 149 35 0 0 140
2001–06 Sydney Roosters 114 8 0 0 32
2005(loan) → Bradford Bulls 6 0 0 0 0
2007–13 Warrington Wolves 173 9 0 0 36
2013(loan) → Swinton Lions 1 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Salford Red Devils 45 2 0 0 8
Total 488 54 0 0 216
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1996–07 Great Britain 30 3 0 0 12
2000–12 England 23 1 0 0 4
Source: [4][5][6][7]

Background

Morley was born in Salford, Greater Manchester, England.

Playing career

Leeds

He played for Leeds between 1995 and 2000. He made his England and Great Britain débuts in 1996. In the 1997 post-season, Morley was selected to play for Great Britain in all three matches of the Super League Test series against Australia. Morley played for Leeds as a second-row in their 1998 Super League Grand Final loss to Wigan. He won the Challenge Cup with Leeds in 1999 when they defeated London Broncos 52–16 at Wembley. He was offered a chance to play alongside his brother Chris Morley, who played for Wales, but chose to commit to England in the 2000 World Cup.[8] In July 2000, Morley agreed to join Australian side Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League at the end of the season, who were being coached by former Leeds boss Graham Murray.[9]

Sydney

The 2000 NRL season was Morley's first at the Roosters. After taking twelve months to fully acclimatise, the tough forward became a central figure in the club's twelfth Premiership – their first in 27 years – playing as a second-row in the 2002 NRL Grand Final, a 30–8 victory over the New Zealand Warriors at Telstra Stadium. Having won the 2002 NRL Premiership, the Roosters travelled to England to play the 2003 World Club Challenge against Super League champions, St. Helens. Morley played and scored a try in the Roosters' victory. Later that year Morley played in the second-row for the Roosters in the 2003 NRL Grand Final which was lost to Penrith Panthers.

Morley played for the Roosters as a prop in their 2004 NRL Grand Final loss to cross-Sydney rivals, the Bulldogs. Morley was then selected in the Great Britain team to compete in the end of season 2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament. In the final against Australia he played as a prop in the Lions' 44–4 loss.

Morley playing for England in 2008

In a round 20 match towards the end of his final season (2006) with the Roosters, Morley was sent off after attempting to knee Bulldogs player Corey Hughes in the face as the player attempted to play the ball. Afterwards he was suspended by the NRL Judiciary, and the Roosters released him from his contract. He returned to the UK before the season's end.

Morley had helped the Roosters to a World Club Challenge title as well as two further Grand Final appearances before joining English club Warrington. He is one of only eight Englishmen to have played in NRL Grand Final-winning teams. Morley is the only player to win Great Britain caps whilst at the Roosters, although Phil Clarke had won England caps whilst at the club.

Bradford

In 2005 Morley became the first Englishman to have won Premierships in the NRL and Super League and the Rugby League Challenge Cup. In late 2005, although still contracted to Roosters; Morley joined Bradford Bulls towards the end of the season and helped them to claim the Super League championship against his old team Leeds. He played for the Bradford Bulls from the interchange bench in their 2005 Super League Grand Final victory against the Rhinos. His stay at Bradford was short as he joined Warrington the next season.

Morley playing for Warrington in 2007

Warrington

Morley signed a 4-year deal with Warrington, beginning in 2006. He captained the Great Britain test side that faced France in 2007. He was also appointed captain of Warrington. It was while playing for Warrington that he made his 400th competitive senior appearance.

Morley was named in the 24-man England squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, and also played against Wales at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster prior to England's departure.[10][11][12] In Group A's first match against Papua New Guinea he played from the interchange bench in England's victory.

Morley guided Warrington to Challenge Cup glory in 2009, beating Huddersfield in the final at Wembley. He was selected to play for England against France in the one-off test in 2010.[13]

Morley captained Warrington in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Leeds Rhinos at Wembley Stadium.[14][15]

Morley was to lead England in the 2010 Four Nations but was ruled out after injuring himself in a warm up match against the New Zealand Māori rugby league team.[16]

Morley played for England in the 2011 Four Nations. England made the tournament's final and in the final, Morley made his 50th international appearance.[17]

He played in the 2012 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Leeds Rhinos at Wembley Stadium.[18][19][20][21]

He played in the 2012 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.[22][19]

Morley's autobiography, "Moz", was released on 12 November 2012 and reprinted twice in the run up to Christmas 2012.

He played in the 2013 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford.[23][24][25][26][27]

Salford

Morley signed a one-year deal for his hometown club Salford for the 2014 season, aiming to finish his career with his hometown club. The 36-year-old forward was appointed the Salford Red Devils' captain at the start of the 2014 season.

On 10 September 2015, Adrian announced that he would retire from playing rugby league at the end of the 2015 season.[28]

On 14 October 2015, it was announced that Morley would play one more rugby league match. In his last match, he represented his début club, Leeds, in a one-off exhibition game against New Zealand.[29]

References
  1. "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. Stott, Julie (6 October 2010). "England Four Nations Pen Pics". News of the World. UK: News Group Newspapers Ltd. Archived from the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  3. "Adrian Morley Leeds Rhinos". www.superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. 2015. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  4. "Profile at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  5. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  7. "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  8. Wilson, Andy (31 July 2000). "Big Pommie braced for the welcome down under". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  9. "Myler gets England call". England Rugby League. 29 September 2008. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  10. "Purdham earns World Cup call-up". BBC. 7 October 2008. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  11. "Gleeson to lead new-look England". BBC. 9 October 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
  12. Hadfield, Dave (13 June 2010). "Widdop passes his first Test at a canter". The Independent. London: Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 15 June 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  13. Scott, Ged (28 August 2010). "Leeds 6–30 Warrington". BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  14. Wilson, Andy (28 August 2010). "Chris Hicks hat-trick leads Warrington to Challenge Cup triumph over Leeds". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  15. "League: English captain to miss Four Nations". The New Zealand Herald. 17 October 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  16. "Morley set for 50th cap". Sky Sports. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  17. "Warrington's battered Brett Hodgson recovers to see off Leeds in final". Guardian UK. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  18. "Leeds' Kevin Sinfield stars in Grand Final triumph against Warrington". Guardian. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  19. "Leeds Rhinos 18–35 Warrington Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  20. "Warrington Wolves Are Challenge Cup Winners 2012!". Warrington Wolves Official Site. 25 August 2012. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  21. "Grand Final: Warrington 18-26 Leeds". BBC Sport. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  22. "Super League Grand Final". Super League. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  23. Newsum, Matt (5 October 2013). "Super League Grand Final: Wigan Warriors beat Warrington". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  24. "Super League Grand Final: Warrington v Wigan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  25. "Warrington Wolves 16 Wigan Warriors 30". Daily Telegraph. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  26. "Wigan see off Warrington in X-rated Grand Final to complete double". Guardian. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  27. "MORLEY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT". superleague.co.uk. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  28. "Adrian Morley to end career with Leeds v New Zealand game". bbc.com. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
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