St George Illawarra Dragons winger Brett Morris could be days away from signing with Canterbury.
As reported in the Leader in recent weeks, the Australian Test player and prolific try-scorer has been linked with the Bulldogs.
Morris, 28, wants to join his twin brother, Josh, at the Bulldogs.
Josh Morris switched to the Bulldogs in 2009 after he and Brett started their careers together at the Dragons.
Morris is believed to have asked for a release from his contract which expires at the end of 2015.
The Dragons said they had not received an official request from Morris to go.
The Leader understands that Morris, if he is granted a release, he will join the Bulldogs for 2015.
The Leader can report that the Bulldogs are prepared to pay $6000,000 a season for a four-year deal to get Morris.
The Bulldogs are seeking more strike power in their backline and Morris and Canterbury coach Des Hasler sees him as a winger or fullback.
The Dragons have salary cap issues with key signings over the past 12 months, with Gareth Widdop, Josh Dugan and Benji Marshall, taking a fair chunk out of the salary cap.
It is understood the club is $700,000 over the cap for 2015.
The future of NSW forward Trent Merrin and winger Jason Nightingale has become clouded.
They are contracted to the Dragons until the end of 2015.
Merrin has been courted privately by the Sydney Roosters to join them in 2016.
In other news, Dragons coach Paul McGregor has met with the players and coaching staff in recent weeks, and has begun planning for next season.
Forwards Jack Stockwell and Dan Hunt and centre Dylan Farrell have been told to ‘‘explore other options’’.
The club’s high performance manager Andrew Gray has left and is expected join the Sharks.
Former Wests Tigers strength and conditioner, Cherry Mescia, will be on the Dragons staff in 2015.
Former grand-final winning forward Dean Young is expected to be promoted from coach of the under-20s Dragons team to become of one of McGregor’s assistants.
Ben Hornby, who co-coached the Dragons under-20s team this year, is expected to be re-appointed as under-20s coach in 2015.
The Dragons, Souths and Brisbane are in the 2015 World Club Series in England.
They will tackle St Helens, Wigan and Warrington on February 20-22.
The tournament will culminate with the World Club Challenge.
Super League general manager Blake Solly said the Dragons had an enormous following in England.
Dragons chief executive Peter Doust said the club was right behind the series.
‘‘The series is a great concept and something that our club has been an advocate,’’ Doust said.
Should the Dragons keep or release Brett Morris?
