Rugby League: Fiery Morley aims to keep cool

SYDNEY - Sydney Roosters enforcer Adrian Morley is confident his often fragile temperament will survive a predicted onslaught from the New Zealand Warriors pack in this evening's National Rugby League grand final.

The Englishman expects the Warriors to exploit his abrasive nature and he says he will be striving to keep a lid on his emotions.

"They know about me and they'll probably have a go at winding me up. There's certainly going to be fireworks, I just have to keep cool," the Salford-born prop said ahead of the season finale here at Telstra Stadium.

Morley is listed in the interchange bench but may start in the second row, although he is often held in reserve while the teams sort themselves out in the opening exchanges.

The 25-year-old has regularly fallen foul of the NRL judiciary since arriving at the club last season, his foot trip on Cronulla prop Chris Beattie in the first qualifying final the latest in a long list of on-field indiscretions.

"That's been my downfall over the years," Morley admitted.

"I seem to get too hyped up and too over the top. It's an emotional game, especially a grand final, so I'm going to have to have a word with myself.

"It's all about controlled aggression. You don't want to lose the aggression but I tend to do silly things."

Morley thought he had calmed down in recent seasons after developing a reputation as a hothead in England.

"When I was younger I was trying to prove myself basically and I got sent off a few times but the last few years I've been really controlled. " The hard-hitting seven-test veteran had an added incentive to produce a big match against the Warriors, with spots in the Great Britain test side to play the Kiwis in three tests next month up for grabs.

"I'm in the train-on squad and hopefully a strong game will strengthen my claims."

Morley should have the inside running with coach David Waite as the only Englishman to have regularly encountered the Kiwis-laden Warriors this season.

"This will be the third time I've played against them so hopefully I'll have a bit of insight to pass on," he said.

Morley won a Challenge Cup with Leeds in 1999 and should the Roosters win tomorrow he will join a select band of Englishmen to have tasted success in Australia including another north of England hard nut Kevin Ward, a winner with Manly in 1987.

"This is what I came over to play in, these kind of games. The last eight weeks we've really turned it on, it's great for the guys and me personally," he said.

Morley, among the club's most impressive performers, was almost resigned to fulfilling a minor role this season after a back injury in May sidelined him for eight weeks.

The back added to the frustrations of a broken arm which limited his input in a difficult first season in 2001.

"It took me ages to settle in and then I broke my arm. I thought this year's going to be my year and thought I'd make an impact then I did my back.

"It was a nightmare, I just thought 'here we go again."

However surgery and regular physio had him back in action for round 21 two months ago and he has been a fixture ever since, barring suspension.

Morley has made such an impression in the finals series, he has been awarded the players' player award for two out of the three Roosters games.

The team's defensive coach John Cartwright -- no shrinking violet during his days at Penrith -- described Morley as a vital cog in the Roosters defensive set up.

And despite his reputation, Cartwright thought the Englishman had altered his image as a hard man.

"I think part of the reason for that is he doesn't go out and beat his chest and carry on," Cartwright said.

"The blokes that say what they're going to do to you, they're the one's you don't have to worry about. If he does a good shot he just gets himself back into the line, he doesn't stand over the bloke -- they're the blokes you fear."

- NZPA