They say good things come to those who wait and in Dylan Morris' case, he's come up trumps.
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The Kiama speedster will leave for Europe on Monday, hoping to launch his rugby league career - less than 12 months after his original plans with Whitehaven in the northwest of England were sidelined due to COVID-19.
"Last year just didn't look very appealing when you consider the risk/reward going over there with the COVID-19 pandemic," Morris said.
"Australia had returned to some normality, while Europe was at its lowest point with all the lockdowns - it just wouldn't have been the full experience I was looking for.
"While it was a little disappointing to not go last year, it made even hungrier to go this season.
"I've always wanted to go over and use footy as a way of travelling and meeting new people - I'm pumped everything is finally set in stone."
Instead of heading to England, Morris, along with fellow Group Seven talent and former teammate at the Dragons and Knights Josh Dowel, will be lining up for French club Saint-Gaudens, in the tier one French league.
"Originally, Luke Chalker messaged me asking to go over with him because his NSW Cup coach Russ Aitken was looking for a front-rower and a half/fullback," the Kiama High School alumnus said.
"Chalker pulled the pin due to a new job so I got straight onto Dowely and the rest is history.
"It's going to be extremely special going over with him, considering we've played so much together already in our careers.
"We will be able to pull each other into line when the hard work needs to be done but also have a buddy there to do all the fun experiences that will come with it."
Having proven himself as one of the most electric players on the South Coast, the 2019 Group Seven premiership player is eager to test himself against international competition.
"I'm just excited to get over there and play a different style of football," the 23-year-old said.
"I've heard the French play a different to here in Australia - more old school with less shape, which I think will help with my game.
"Popping up around the field and getting at the big boys in the middle once they're tired.
"Over the years you get a bit of natural footy coached out of you, so I'm keen to just get into that frame of mind again to just play what's in front of you."
Morris and Dowel, a Warilla-Lake South junior, won't have long to acclimatise to life in southwest France, with the Bears' Elite One Championship season kicking off on October 16 - giving the pair just 10 days to prepare for their first game.
That doesn't faze Morris though, who has been making the most of the lockdown orders on NSW.
"Lockdown's been one of the best things for me because I've been at the fields every day doing my own thing," he said.
"Match fitness has been hard the last couple years with only 18 games since the 2019 grand final but hopefully I've done enough by myself to put myself in the best spot possible to perform."
During his stint with the Haute-Garonne region side, Morris has a couple of goals he'd like to achieve.
"I really want to enjoy myself and make the most of the experience - anything on top of that will be a bonus," Morris said.
"Playing well week in, week out for the Bears can definitely help me push for a spot in the English Super League.
"The two French sides are in the Super League top four and the competition's had some big signings like James Maloney - so there will be plenty of eyes on the league.
"In terms of the team, the boys finished last season at the bottom of the ladder, so reaching finals would be a huge achievement and one Dowely and I are striving for."
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