Plugging a gap at the club and offering them some much needed depth, Ryan Morgan joined the Melbourne Storm mid-season. Now, at the completion of the year, Morgan will be leaving the club after signing a 3-year deal with English side, St Helens.
Playing in seven games for the Storm to date this year and scoring two tries in the process, the 26-year old has played a total of 84 NRL games, the majority of which came for his former side Parramatta.
It may have only been a brief tenure at the Storm, but Morgan says the experience and journey has left a lasting impression on him.
“I’ve loved it, all the boys have been great down here as have the coaching staff,†Morgan said.
“It’s true what they say about this club, it’s a real professional organisation and it’s really well run.
“There’s a tight group of boys down here and I’ve really been enjoying my footy. I’d say I’ve made some lifetime friends down here.â€
The club also acknowledged Morgan and the work he has put in, praising his efforts.
“Ryan has made a big contribution to Storm during his short stay at the club,†said Storm Director of Football, Frank Ponissi.
“He has quickly become a very well liked member of the playing group and we would have loved to have kept him in Melbourne – Ryan has played a big part in our success in attack throughout the season so far and has played in six wins from his seven games.
“We realise the incredible opportunity Ryan has been given to join a world famous club in St.Helens and wish him all the best during his time in the Super League.”
As for Morgan’s move to the Super League, it was after speaking to some former NRL players currently in the competition about its pedigree and standing, that convinced him to make the move across himself.
“I’m really looking forward to coming over to St Helens. It has a great history and is a successful club and that is what excited me about the move,” Morgan said.
“It was a tough decision to make, especially moving away from my family, but being part of a successful organisation and trying to build something in England made the choice easier.
“I spoke to a couple of former Super League players before deciding and they had nothing but good things to say about the club and the comp. Blake Green is here at Melbourne and he said he enjoyed the lifestyle and the footy – as did Willie Tonga too.
“Hearing that made the decision a lot easier.”