Match Details
Match Date	17th Aug, 2013
Opponent	Canberra
Result	Win 28-16
Coach	Des Hasler
Captain	Michael Ennis
Venue	Canberra (Stadium)
Crowd	11,847
Referee	Ashley Klein Gavin Reynolds

Ben Barba might be glancing at the exit, but Josh Morris proved life without him at Canterbury would not be doom and gloom with a superb fullback’s display in Saturday’s victory in Canberra.

The Test centre might have stamped Barba’s ticket to Brisbane by scoring a try and creating three more in a brilliant performance. In just his third game at fullback deputising for the injured Barba (ankle), Morris gave coach Des Hasler food for thought should he allow their best player to move north next year.

Barba has requested a release from his Bulldogs contract so he can be closer next year to his former partner, Ainslie Currie, and two young daughters, who are moving to Queensland. The Broncos are his near certain destination, but Hasler has insisted he would not let him go unless he finds a top-quality replacement fullback.

On Saturday’s evidence at Canberra Stadium, his search is over. Morris ran for 176 metres in a best on ground performance, condemning the ninth-placed Raiders to a defeat which could crush their finals hopes.

“The way he performed today, you’d think he’d been playing fullback for quite a while,’’ Hasler said.

“Josh is also an international centre, it says a lot for the fellow.’’

Morris has been named in the No. 3 jersey the last three weeks, but shifted to fullback in the diminutive Barba’s absence. He joked the Bulldogs could not find a No. 1 jersey big enough to fit him, but they might have to if Barba quits the club.

“I don’t know if they have one big enough for me – Benny’s pretty small,’’ Morris laughed. “It’s probably something I haven’t thought about long term. I love playing in the centres and having forged a rep career there – at the moment I’m doing what’s best for the team.’’

Morris opened the scoring by backing up a Josh Reynolds break in the seventh minute. Moments later he set up the first of winger Sam Perrett’s three tries with a sublime overhead offload. He threw the final pass for tries to Perrett and winger Mitch Brown either side of half-time as the Bulldogs built a match-winning 24-6 lead.

Both teams endured their fair share of distractions in the lead-up. While Canterbury were dealing with the Barba saga, Canberra were forced to deny claims centre Blake Ferguson wants to return to Sydney. But it was Canterbury who handled their off-field turmoil best. Despite entering the game in fifth, a finals spot would have been in jeopardy had they lost.

They were helped by a woeful Canberra, who made many first-half errors. Only late tries to Milford and Josh Papalii added respectability.

Canberra face Manly (home), New Zealand (away) and Cronulla (home) in a horror end to the regular season. The Raiders’ plight was compounded by a suspected right lower leg fracture to Jack Wighton. Play was held up in the second half as he was taken by stretcher off the field, and his season appears to be over.

Ninth-placed Canberra’s finals hopes might also be finished after a third straight loss. It was a disappointing showing by the hosts, who sorely missed key players Shaun Fensom and Terry Campese, while Ferguson withdrew late with a thigh injury. They’ll need all their troops back on deck to test topfour heavyweights Manly at home next Sunday.

The Bulldogs deserved the win, but the Raiders will be fuming after Williams was denied a try midway through the first half. With Canterbury leading 10-0, Williams burst through and looked to have scored.

However, video referees Steve Clark and Matt Rodwell ruled he failed to ground the ball.

Moments later, Brown scored to extend Canterbury’s lead to 14-0.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

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