View source for Rod Morris

{{Short description|Australia international rugby league player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{BLP one source|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name           = Rod Morris
|fullname       =
|image          = 
|caption        = 
|country        = Australia
|position       = {{Rlp|PR}}
|currentclub    = 
|birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1950|6|12|df=yes}}
|birth_place    = [[Ipswich, Queensland|Ipswich]], [[Queensland]], Australia
|height         = 
|weight         = 
|club1          = [[Easts Tigers|Easts]] ([[BRL Premiership|Brisbane]])
|year1start     = 
|year1end       = 
|appearances1   = 
|tries1         = 
|goals1         = 
|fieldgoals1    = 
|points1        = 
|club2          = [[Balmain Tigers]]
|year2start     = 1979
|year2end       = 81
|appearances2   = 56
|tries2         = 4 
|goals2         = 0 
|fieldgoals2    = 0 
|points2        = 12
|club3          = [[Wynnum-Manly Seagulls|Wynnum-Manly]]
|year3start     = 1982 
|year3end       = ??
|appearances3   = ?
|tries3         = 
|goals3         = 
|fieldgoals3    = 
|points3        = ?
|teamA          = [[Queensland Maroons|Queensland]]
|yearAstart     = 1976
|yearAend       = 79
|appearancesA   = 6
|triesA         = 0
|goalsA         = 0
|fieldgoalsA    = 0 
|pointsA        = 0
|teamB          = [[New South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]]
|yearBstart     = 1979
|yearBend       = 81
|appearancesB   = 6
|triesB         = 0 
|goalsB         = 0 
|fieldgoalsB    = 0 
|pointsB        = 0
|teamC          = [[Queensland Maroons|Queensland]] ([[State of Origin|Origin]])
|yearCstart     = 1980
|yearCend       = 82
|appearancesC   = 4
|triesC         = 0 
|goalsC         = 0 
|fieldgoalsC    = 0 
|pointsC        = 0
|teamD          = [[Australian Kangaroos|Australia]]
|yearDstart     = 1977
|yearDend       = 82
|appearancesD   = 17
|triesD         = 1 
|goalsD         = 0 
|fieldgoalsD    = 0 
|pointsD        = 3
|retired        = yes
|updated        = 
|source         = 
|new            = yes
| module       = {{infobox person
| embed        = yes
| father       = 
| mother       = 
| spouse       = 
| education    = 
| alma_mater   = 
| relatives    = [[Des Morris]] (brother)
}}
}}

'''Rod Morris''' is an Australian former professional [[rugby league]] footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. An Australian international and Queensland [[State of Origin]] representative [[Rugby league positions#Prop forward|front row forward]], he played club football in the [[New South Wales Rugby Football League]] for [[Balmain Tigers|Balmain]], and in the [[Brisbane Rugby League]] for [[Eastern Suburbs Tigers|Eastern Suburbs]] (with whom he won the 1977 and 1978 Grand Finals) and [[Wynnum-Manly Seagulls|Wynnum-Manly]] (with whom he won the 1982 Grand Final).

==Playing career==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=May 2017}}
Morris was a [[Easts Tigers|Brisbane Easts]] player who first represented for [[Queensland Rugby League team|Queensland]] in 1976 and then [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]] in 1977. He signed with the [[Balmain Tigers]] in 1979 and was brought to Sydney, thus becoming eligible to play for New South Wales under the selection criterion of the time. In the 1979 interstate series he played against his Queensland resident brother [[Des Morris]]. He then played for Queensland in 1980 in the first ever [[Rugby League State of Origin]] under the new origin selection criterion.

He was a [[1978 Kangaroo tour]]ist playing in two Tests and ten minor tour matches. He played in all three Tests of the 1979 domestic [[Rugby League Ashes|Ashes]] series which Australia won 3–0.

Morris made a return to Brisbane club football in 1982 and captained [[Wynnum-Manly Seagulls|Wynnum-Manly]] at the age of 32 to a [[Brisbane Rugby League]] premiership title which was Wynnum-Manly's first ever. He put in a man-of-the-match performance in the 2nd game of the [[1982 Rugby League State of Origin series|1982 State of Origin series]] before making his last representative appearances in that year's [[Kangaroo Tour]], playing in four tour matches and contributing to the [[The Invincibles (Rugby League)|Invincibles]]' unbeaten tour record, being the only player in the team, however, to not score a try on the tour.

Morris is also remembered for his short-lived "Deer in the headlights" style when making his Channel Nine debut as a commentator for the 1989 State of Origin series.

He is one of a number of players to have represented both Queensland and New South Wales and one of those rare foundation Origin representatives whose NSW appearances were bookended by selections for Queensland.

== Business career ==
Rod Morris is also a successful McDonald's franchisee owner who currently possesses ownership of two McDonald's Franchise's situated in Cannon Hill and Morningside, Queensland, Australia. In March 2021, he expanded his business ventures by acquiring and constructing an additional location in Morningside, which is also known as McDonald's Colmslie Business Park.

According to Mr. Morris, 'This location will generate more than 100 new jobs and will employ 120 locals from the area including a mix of, full-time, part-time, and casual roles including crew, management, baristas and maintenance.' Mr Morris, has also been able to provide eight employees from his Cannon Hill store with an opportunity to step into managerial roles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=wpmaster |date=2021-07-23 |title=New McDonald's at Rivermakers business park, Morningside,will create 120 jobs |url=https://rivermakers.com.au/new-mcdonalds-at-rivermakers-business-park-morningsidewill-create-120-jobs/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Rivermakers |language=en-US}}</ref>

Rod Morris initiated his franchising journey back in 1985 with the establishment of McDonald's Cleveland stores.<ref>https://image.isu.pub/160627225718-1172091e3d31526f23eeba0a05e49c94/jpg/page_22.jpg {{Bare URL image|date=August 2024}}</ref> Eventually, he made the decision to pass the restaurant to his son, Steven Morris, by selling the Cleveland franchise to him.<ref>https://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/food/qld-taste/maccas-to-add-20-new-brisbane-restaurants-over-five-years/news-story/037e732e5530f1e3326905ae376f8868 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>

In late January 2025, Rod Morris retired from Franchisee duties after 40 years, selling his two stores (McDonalds Cannon Hill and McDonalds Colmslie Business Park) to his son, Steven Morris.

==Sources==
* Andrews, Malcolm (2006) ''The ABC of Rugby League'' Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Eastern Suburbs Tigers squad - 1977 BRL premiers}}
{{Eastern Suburbs Tigers squad - 1978 BRL premiers}}
{{Wynnum-Manly Seagulls squad - 1982 BRL premiers}}
{{1978 Kangaroo Tour squad}}
{{The Invincibles (rugby league)}}
{{Queensland Maroons - Inaugural State of Origin team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Rod}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Australia national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Balmain Tigers players]]
[[Category:Brisbane Tigers players]]
[[Category:New South Wales rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Queensland Rugby League State of Origin players]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from Ipswich, Queensland]]
[[Category:Rugby league props]]
[[Category:Wynnum Manly Seagulls players]]