| Ray Morris Medal |
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To be eligible, a player must also have performed remarkably well through-out the season, performed professionally on and off the field and within the mission statement for Maltese Rugby League that is to “Promote and develop Rugby League within the Maltese community”. The award was named after Ray Morris (pictured top right), who was and remains the only ever player from the Sydney University club to be selected for the Australian Kangaroos. Having won a Premiership with the Wests Magpies in 1930, Morris became a regular NSW representative player from 1931.
By 1933, after only five matches as the form centre three-quarter at the Sydney University club, Morris was selected for the Australian Kangaroos 1933/34 tour. Assembling with the Kangaroo Touring Party at Darling Harbour in the early afternoon of Tuesday July 4, 1933 to board ‘The Manunda' which would take them to Melbourne to join the steamer for England, The Rugby League News reported Ray Morris as smiling and telling all that he was "looking forward to a wonderful experience". On August 5, following stops at Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Colombo, the ‘Jervis Bay’ stopped into Port Said, Egypt and only a week before the anticipated arrival in England, it was reported that “all the party was in good health aside from Ray Morris who had been detained in the ship's hospital for regular treatment of an ear infection”. It was contemplated that he had "possibly contracted it while bathing in the ship's pool". By August 10, morning newspapers in Sydney shocked the Rugby League community when they headlined “Morris in Serious Condition”. The ship’s doctors had radioed ahead to Malta (where the British maintained numerous military hospital services) requesting that an ear specialist meet the ship upon its arrival. As soon as the doctor saw Morris he ordered his immediate transfer from the ship to a British military hospital where he was accompanied by a ‘team visitor’ Sam Haron, and the ship continued its journey to England. On the Friday night, August 11, the terrible news arrived in Sydney that Morris was dead: "A wireless message from Malta states that R. Morris....has died in hospital at Valletta". Morris had not in fact survived the day he was removed from the ship. After being taken to the Blue Sisters Hospital he was operated upon but it failed to stop his rapid decline. Celebrating the birthday of one of the players whilst off the coast of Spain, a radio transmission reported the passing of Ray Morris, immensely dampening the spirits of the 500 passengers with whom Morris had been “immensely popular”. A memorial service was conducted on the ship and all matches back in Sydney were marked with a minute’s silence in tribute to Morris. Even the Australian Rules national tournament placed all flags at half-mast to pay their respects. It later became apparent that between Perth and Colombo in a sparring session, Morris had suffered a knock to his head that ruptured his ear-drum. The ear became infected when bathing in Colombo. His condition had rapidly declined, resulting in the dash for hospital in Malta. An operation was conducted immediately but whilst it appeared to bring relief, “meningeal complications followed” and Morris passed away in Malta. The Australian Rugby League Board of Control decided, quite appropriately, that no replacement would be sent to England although the Kangaroos had yet to play a match. A tribute from Western Suburbs Club President E.McFayden was typical of the way Morris would be remembered, "Dear Ray Morris has passed away. One that cannot be forgotten; his manliness and sportsmanship could not be surpassed." Brought back to Australia, Ray Morris was laid to rest at Waverley Cemetery on September 23 1933. Inaugurally, the Ray Morris Medal was known as the Maltese Rugby League Player of the Year Award. Since 2008, the award is known as the Ray Morris Medal. Honour Roll - Ray Morris Medal (Malta Rugby League Player of the Year)
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Described as a “forceful player, dashing in attack and strong in defence”, Morris was well respected by supporters, players and officials alike for his “gentlemanly nature” and became one of the “personalities” of the game of Rugby League in the 1930’s.
