Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ Kurtis Morrin had a taste of NRL during 2022, but after a full season in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, the 22-year-old will be aiming for more chances in first grade next season.
The club’s 2021 Jersey Flegg Cup Player of the Year headed straight into the starting 17 for NSW Cup kick-off in 2022. He went on to play 20 games for the eventual Grand Finalists; 11 from the interchange, seven at lock and two at prop.
The mobile forward quickly built a reputation as an impact player off the bench with five tries and 15 tackle busts from that role. It was an influence which paid dividends when he made his NRL debut mid-season.
Morrin was given the NRL call-up in Round 15 against the Wests Tigers, just six days on from the Bulldogs’ third win of the season over the Parramatta Eels and first under interim coach Mick Potter.
He finally got the chance to step onto the park at the 51-minute mark and a short time later scored a memorable debut try after Josh Addo-Carr scooped up a loose ball from a left-edge raid and skipped back infield before finding a charging Morrin to score.
He made two more first grade appearances in Rounds 16 and 18 before bringing that experience back to the NSW Cup team, who then won six from eight matches in a late-season charge to make the Grand Final against the Penrith Panthers.
The Bulldogs will be keen to go one win further in the NSW Cup in 2023, and Morrin could play a big role in that goal with a number of familiar faces staying in blue and white.
If he can also impress incoming first grade coach Cameron Ciraldo, then he won’t look out of place playing more minutes in the NRL when the opportunity presents itself.
