Des Morris

For the British ethologist and zoologist, see Desmond Morris.

Desmond John Morris, OAM (born 20 April 1948) is an Australian former rugby league footballer, coach and administrator. He is the brother of former Queensland and Australian representative Rod Morris.

Des Morris

Personal information
Full name	Desmond John Morris
Born	(1948-04-20) 20 April 1948
Playing information
Position	Prop, Second-row
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1968–1979 Eastern Suburbs 226 50 0 0 150 1980–81 Wynnum-Manly 34 4 0 0 12 Total 260 54 0 0 162 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1969–79 Queensland 15
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1982–85 Wynnum-Manly 79 56 1 22 71 1988–89 Eastern Suburbs 39 24 1 14 62 Total 118 80 2 36 68 Representative Years Team Gms W D L W% 1985 Queensland 3 1 0 2 33
Source: QRL

He played club football in Queensland for the Booval Swifts and Eastern Suburbs club of the Brisbane Rugby League, and represented his state on fifteen occasions. As captain-coach of Easts, Morris helped the club to success in the BRL Premiership in 1972, 1977 and 1978.

In his first year after retiring as a player, Morris coached the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls to victory in the 1982 Brisbane Rugby League premiership. He did this again in 1984. For the 1985 State of Origin series Morris was appointed coach of the Queensland team, but lost two of the three matches that year so was dropped. That year he coached Wynnum Manly to a second consecutive Brisbane Rugby League premiership grand final, but lost to Souths.

He served as chief executive officer of the Eastern Suburbs Tigers from 2007 to 2016, continuing an association with the club that dates back to 1968. He was also an Australian national selector.

Morris was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the 2021 Australia Day Honours, for "For service to rugby league."

External links

• Des Morris at rugbyleagueproject.com
• Queensland representatives at qrl.com.au