Dewsbury Rams: Axe threat proves a major motivator for coach Morrison

DEWSBURY Rams boss Glenn Morrison admits he had contemplated losing his job ahead of their epic victory at former club Bradford Bulls.
Dewsbury Rams' head coach Glenn Morrison.Dewsbury Rams' head coach Glenn Morrison.
Dewsbury Rams' head coach Glenn Morrison.

He saw his side win 16-14 as Paul Sykes dramatically converted a penalty after the final hooter against the former World Club champions.

Dewsbury had been veering towards the relegation spots in the Championship but a hard-earned win at the fallen Super League giants was a timely boost. When asked what his main motivation was going back to the side where he spent three fine seasons as a player, Morrison, admitted: “To save my own job really! If you get relegated there’s not going to be a job there for you and it’s tough for the club financially. The motivation for the boys was what it’s always been; working hard to get things right. We’re doing everything we can but had just not been able to get over that line.

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“We were close the previous week (against Batley) and still could have won it in the last minute even though we played poorly. But Sunday they listened and ground out a really, really tough win.”

Part-timers Dewsbury had won just one of their previous seven league games and lost three players to injury at Odsal.

Despite fierce pressure in the second half, they completed at 94 per cent to get a win that sees them up to seventh.

Morrison, who had been interested in taking the Bulls job last month before Rohan Smith took charge, had seen some of his star players leave before the new campaign. That was expected given the Rams do not have the financial clout of so many others.

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But Morrison said: “(Club chairman) Mark (Sawyer) always says he’s never missed a bill – he always pays their wages. Once we get the 3G pitch done by the middle of next year, I think, there’ll be a lot more revenue coming in and we’ll be able to spend a bit more on the team.”

He added: “We probably overachieved the last couple of years and then there’s the expectations, people saying we should be top-four.

“But realistically the goal again was to try and get in the top-six and push for the Championship trophy. We’re still on track now.”