Des Morris OAM, Tiger #578, has devoted almost his entire life to rugby league and our club.
Nowadays a valuable Board and Life Member, Des Morris retired as CEO in 2016 and brought to a close a remarkable career spanning almost five decades of service to Brisbane Tigers Rugby League Football Club and its members.
Morris’ career with the Brisbane Tigers spanned more than 48 years, beginning when a young fresh-faced back-rower first made the trip from Ipswich’s Booval Swifts to the Coorparoo-based Easts, before going on to become our most-capped player with 226 games.
Morris played in the Tigers golden era, playing in six grand finals over an 11 year period.
He was a member of the Club’s 1972 premiership side, before captain-coaching the Tigers to premierships glory in 1977 and 1978.
In 1980, Morris moved to play with Wynnum-Manly Seagulls before taking on the head coaching role, winning premierships in 1982 and 1984.
After six years with the Seagulls, Morris returned home to Langland’s Park holding various roles with the Club, before taking on the position of CEO in 2007.
During this period, the Tigers were regular final combatants and were premiership runners-up in 2013 and 2014.
- Des played 226 games at Easts (1968 to 1979)
- 15 games played for Queensland (1969 to 1979)
- 154 games coached Easts (1975-1989)
- 5 years captain/coached Easts – Premiers 1977 and 1978, Finalists in 1975, 1976 and 1979
- 3 games coached Queensland (1985)
- 21 years as Queensland selector (1995 to 2016)
- 7 years as Easts President (1995 to 2002)
- 9 years as Easts CEO (2007 to 2016)
- 5 years at Easts as Board member/Director (from 2018)
- Awarded an OAM “for service to rugby league” (2021)
- Recognised in Brisbane Rugby League team of the century (1922 to 2022)
- Proud life member of Brisbane Tigers
In an interview with The Courier-Mail in 2016, Morris said, after four decades with the Club, it was time to move on and spend more time with his family.
“It has been like a second home for me, I have been here forever.
“I came down here in 1968 just looking for an opportunity and ended up staying here, and obviously being a part of some great teams.
“Obviously, winning some premierships are highlights, but, as CEO, I have really enjoyed how we have been able to continue to make finals recently.
“I think establishing the link between us and the Melbourne Storm in 2010 was one of the best things to happen to the club as well.
“One of the best things about the club is the community we have around it and the great people I have met during my time here.”
The Club has named one of Totally Workwear Stadium’s new grandstands in Des Morris’ honour, to be officially unveiled at an event on Wednesday 17 May.
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