NRL: Dragons family hope for Bulldogs win

An NRL win for the Bulldogs will make Josh Morris the third member of his family to play for a premiership-winning team after his father Steve and twin brother Brett. Photo / Getty Images

Proud rugby league super dad Steve Morris is hoping to welcome his family's third premiership winner on Sunday with son Josh just 80 minutes away from an NRL title with Canterbury.

Steve, who starred in the Dragons' 1979 grand final triumph over Canterbury, is already part of an exclusive group of eight premiership-winning fathers whose sons have achieved the same honour after Josh's twin Brett won a title with St George Illawarra in 2010.

And now the Morrises are on the verge of an even rarer family trifecta if the Bulldogs can beat Melbourne in the grand final at ANZ Stadium.

Father Steve would dearly love it to happen for 26-year-old Josh, who has responded brilliantly to early-career disappointment.

Josh was squeezed out of St George Illawarra and joined the Bulldogs in 2009, a year before the Dragons won the title.

Steve, who along with his sons also represented NSW and Australia, felt deeply for Josh when Brett celebrated his 2010 grand final victory in the Dragons' jubilant dressing room.

"It was a bit sad seeing Josh standing there. We all felt for him because he should have been there. He never wanted to leave the Dragons but he had to because of the salary cap," Steve said.

"He's a Bulldog now and he's really enjoying his time there. He's totally committed to them and it would be a great result if he could win a grand final.

"He's done everything he possibly could to get himself to this point and it's great to see him close to achieving his goal.

"He really deserves it. He's thoroughly professional in everything he does in rugby league. He hasn't put a bad one in for the Bulldogs all year and this is something he's been working on all his life.

"All the family are right behind him and very proud of him."

Steve, a brilliant attacking halfback turned winger who won the Dave Brown Medal for man of the match in the 1979 grand final, loves the way the Bulldogs play footy.

"Obviously I'm a Dragon, but I've followed the Bulldogs closely the last four years because of Josh and they are a really great team to watch," Morris said.

As for advice, Morris said he always keeps it simple with his sons.

"I certainly don't tell him what to do," he said.

"He [Josh] is one of the best footballers in Australia. I might say one or two things but I don't tell them how to play because both of them are brilliant.

"I just text them and wish them good luck and might say something simple like play your own game but that's about it."

A win for Canterbury would see Steve Morris join Canterbury's 1980 premiership winner Garry Hughes as the only player to have more than one son win a competition.

Father and son

Premiership winners

* Jack Spencer (Balmain 1946-47) and John (Balmain 1969)
* Bob McCarthy (Souths 1967, 1970-71) and Darren (Canterbury 1988)
* Garry Hughes (Canterbury 1980) and Glen (Canterbury, 1995) and Corey (Canterbury, 2004)
* Bill Mullins (Easts 1974-75) and Brett (Canberra 1994, Sydney Roosters 2002)
* Allan Fitzgibbon (Balmain 1969) and Craig (Sydney Roosters 2002)
* John Sattler (Souths 1967-68, 1970-71) and Scott (Penrith 2003)
* Craig Young (St George 1977, 1979) and Dean (2010).
* Steve Morris (St George 1979) and Brett (St George, 2010).

- AAP