Morris has returned to Orange with his family, and while he said he did talk to a “a few” other clubs, the halfback/five-eighth couldn’t resist the lure of CYMS, with whom he won an under-18s premiership in 2007. 

He said it was exciting to face the prospect of pulling the boots back on for CYMS.

“It’s been a long time,” he said.

While Morris said he certainly didn’t rule out playing elsewhere when he decided to move back to the region, once he returned to Orange the choice to play for CYMS became very clear.  

“I know how family-orientated they are, with the wife and kids it was a good fit and to be honest, I couldn’t see myself playing against CYMS,” he said. 

“They’ve had a pretty successful time since I’ve been gone and I guess a lot of the younger guys know how to win, which is good. Hopefully I can play my part.”

He’s hoping to slot into a halfback role, but new coach Dom Maley told him he would have to earn his spot. 

“There’s obviously some competition for spots which is good, it’s good for a club and for a country rugby league team to have.”

Many of the faces Morris played with have moved on from CYMS, but strangely for him, many of the boys he coached as an 18-year-old – who were 13 at the time – will now be his teammates. 

Morris makes his return to CYMS with an impressive CV. 

He spent time in Sydney played SG Ball with Wests Tigers and secured a scholarship with St Gregory’s College, but after training with Cronulla Sharks for the 2008 pre-season he decided a tilt at the top level wasn’t for him.

“Looking back at it now it wasn’t the path I really wanted to take,” he said.

“I couldn’t keep up with it mentally, it’s full on and that’s why so few make it. When I got down there I fell to the wayside.

“I did the whole preseason and said ‘this isn’t what I want’, and I came back and did a year with CYMS and then went to Forbes Magpies and then to Wagga.”

Morris, who turned 30 on Wednesday, spent three years at Wagga Wagga before moving to the Central Coast but said the draw of family in Orange was too strong, and they arrived back at the start of December.