Morris could have played last Origin

Josh Morris could have played his last State of Origin match for NSW, the Canterbury star set to be overlooked for game one when Laurie Daley names his team on Thursday.

Morris has been a regular part of the Blues since 2012, but fullback Josh Dugan will be the preferred out of position at right centre for the Origin opener in Sydney next Wednesday.

The Bulldogs centre has been tasked with the hardest job in Origin over the last few years – stopping Greg Inglis.

Despite NSW’s lack of success of that period, Morris has largely kept Inglis subdued.

Morris was a key figure in NSW’s drought-breaking series win in 2014.

Vision of Morris shrugging off a knee injury to chase down Inglis in NSW’s crucial game one win at Suncorp Stadium that year has become synonymous with the Blues’ win and part of Origin folklore.

And that might be how Morris is best remembered if he doesn’t play again in the sky blue jersey.

Kangaroos representative Dugan is considered a long-term prospect at centre for the Blues and his right side combination with good mate Blake Ferguson could be a part of NSW’s line-ups for years to come.

That leaves Morris, who turns 30 in August, on the outer.

It would be a sad way for Morris to go out if he has played his last State of Origin match, his Canterbury teammate and Blues back-rower Josh Jackson said.

“He has done a really great job there the last few years,” Jackson said.

“I play with him week in week out and I know what he puts into his footy and how much it means to him.

“But it is not my job to select the team it is just my job to go out there and play my best.”

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