ADRIAN MORLEY READY FOR WAR

AS dirty tricks go, this was as mean as they come — but the Aussies have made a massive 16st 7lb mistake in trying to wind up the baddest man in rugby league.

They decided to welcome Adrian Morley for this month’s World Cup by replaying the worst moment of his career on giant screens inside the arrivals lounge at Brisbane Airport.

But it has only fired up the 6ft 3in England star to ram the taunts and sneers down Aussie throats and win the trophy for the first time since 1972.

Morley set foot on Australian soil on Wednesday to be greeted by huge images of his infamous sending off after just 12 seconds in a Test against the old enemy at Ewood Park five years ago.

And he admitted: “I know I’ll never be allowed to forget that tackle on Robbie Kearns as long as I live. It still haunts me. I have done many things, but that’s what I am always reminded about.

“It’s disappointing, but I have just got to live with it. When we arrived in Australia, they were even showing that tackle on TV screens as we walked through the airport. It’s quite funny the Aussies still like to show it even though it was five years ago.

“At the time it was the most disappointing moment of my life, not just my rugby career. But I’ve learnt to live with it. And the best way to make everybody else forget about it, especially the Aussies, would be to help England win the World Cup.

“That would be nice.”

Nice is not something normally associated with the fearsome 31-year-old Salford-born prop. Morley’s clattering swipe to Kearns’ throat earned him the record for the fastest dismissal in Test history and a £2,000 fine.

The Warrington skipper was suspended 11 TIMES — totalling 26 games — during his angry six-year stint with the Sydney Roosters.

Fines

It included a seven-match ban for kneeing an opponent, which ended his Roosters career prematurely. Morley was sent off twice at Leeds Rhinos and once in his debut season at Warrington after returning from Australia.

But, incredibly, this year the Wolves star and former Great Britain skipper has had no suspensions nor fines.

However, Morley is quick to warn fellow Pool One rivals Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea that his new, more disciplined style doesn’t mean he has lost any of his aggression.

England begin their World Cup campaign against Papua New Guinea next Saturday in Townsville’s Dairy Farmers Stadium.

And Morley insists he is still the cream: “I am sure the Aussies and Kiwis and anybody else we play, will set out to see if I’ve gone soft in my two years playing outside the NRL. The message is ‘definitely not’ and I’m going out to prove it. I’m the same old Adrian and still play as hard as I’ve always done.

Suspended

“I’ll be disappointed if players don’t go out to test me and see if it’s true, though. There is nothing bigger than the World Cup and it’s all about players testing each other out.”

Morley believes his recent unblemished record comes down to a combination of the Super League’s more lenient judiciary system and his new role as captain of Wolves.

He added: “Since the England team arrived in Australia, all the Aussies have been asking me what’s happened to me because I’ve not been suspended this year. Some of the things I got suspended for in the NRL were ridiculous.

“Nine of them were for careless high tackles and if I’d had a clean record I probably wouldn’t even have got a one-game ban. But I was a marked man from day one. I have always played on the edge and sometimes it’s difficult to get the balance right.

“In the heat of the game, you try to get a big shot in and sometimes it’s a fine line, with me being tall.”

Wiser

Morley also believes being given the skipper’s armband at Warrington has also helped his game.

He said: “You know you can only lead by example if you’re on the pitch and not in the sinbin or suspended. When you get older you get quicker behind the ears.

“I’m still playing the same way I’ve always played but I’m a bit wiser now.”

Australia, you have been warned.