Bob Fulton and Changa Langlands are Immortals, Blocker Roach one of the greatest players never to win a grand final.

Shaun Timmins, Trent Barrett, Paul McGregor, Kevin Schubert, Ron Costello, John Dorahy and Rod Wishart all had decorated careers and are members of the Illawarra team of the century named in 2010. Brett and twin brother Josh can battle it out with Brett and Glenn Stewart in bar-stool discussion for the title of South Coast's most successful siblings.

At 33, Morris sits comfortably in such elite company, having pushed past the 250 career game milestone.

He has played 18 Tests for Australia and 15 games for NSW, including game one of the famous drought-breaking Blues series win in 2015, when he injured his shoulder.

Morris has 153 tries in the NRL, since making his debut in the Dragons heartbreaking 2006 campaign.

Pretty handy numbers for a bloke who was dropped to play for Helensburgh when the Dragons didn't have a feeder club in 2008.

Jason Nightingale was the two-try grand final hero, but it was Morris who led the way with 20 in St George Illawarra's fairytale 2010 premiership season.

It's extraordinary to be nine years down the career path and see Morris on the cusp of a second NRL title with the club the Dragons beat. Had negotiations panned out differently, Morris may have returned to Wollongong this year, as he left the Bulldogs in the middle of a major roster rebuild.

The Dragons had shown interest in luring him back to WIN Stadium before the June 30 cut off last season, while England loomed as a likely destination in the months following.

Morris's chance with the Roosters only came after the departure of Blake Ferguson to Parramatta and following a meeting with coach Trent Robinson.

"I was sitting there with fingers crossed, hoping and praying," Morris told AAP this week. "Until my manager rang me out of the blue and one day and said I had a meeting with Trent Robinson.

At that stage I was looking at going overseas. It was a blessing. We'd put the feelers out in England and there was a bit of interest there." Morris admits the memories of 2010 have come flooding back this week in preparation for another grand final.

"If you fast-forwarded nine years later and saw me playing in a Roosters jersey in a grand final Dragons fans would've said you're kidding yourselves," he said.

"It's a funny thing.

"But there is a bit of history there.

"Hopefully I can go out on the big stage and have a big game again."

While you're with us the Illawarra Mercury is offering sport readers 20% off an annual digital subscription. Sign up to stay up to date with all the local sports you love for only $3 a week. Terms and conditions apply.