NSW Origin centre Josh Morris says there is no way he would have put his hand up to replace injured Canterbury fullback Ben Barba for the run into the NRL finals.

But how do you say no to coach Des Hasler?

“I think everyone’s too scared to say no to Des,” Morris revealed.

“I said I’d do whatever’s best for the team.

“If for the time being that means that I will play fullback, well then it’s going to be an added bonus because it will get me a lot fitter.”

Hasler’s covert plan to use Morris at the back was played out in Monday night’s 39-20 win over St George Illawarra, with Sam Perrett shifted back to the wing and Krisnan Inu to the centres.

Perrett had been named in the No.1 with Barba expected to be sidelined until the final round of the regular season, but Morris revealed the Kiwi international was never going to fill the role.

“Des told me earlier in the week that I would be playing there,” said Morris after playing fullback for the first time since 2008 – when he was at St George Illawarra.

“It was just about learning the structures. It will still probably take a while to get used to that much running.”

Asked if he volunteered for the role, Morris said: “Definitely not.

“I thought Sammy was going to be there, but the way Des explained it he wanted to keep that right side intact.

“I think he (Hasler) was more afraid of me saying no than I was to saying no to him.

“He was really relieved when I said I’d do it.”

Hasler would no doubt have been mightily relieved after his side recovered from a 20-8 deficit to run out convincing winners over the Dragons.

While Morris and halfback Trent Hodkinson impressed, it was the second half work of the forwards – led by heavyweights Sam Kasiano, Frank Pritchard and Tony Williams – that changed the momentum of the match.

The trio combined for eight tackle breaks as the Dragons defence up the middle was found wanting.

“The way some of those big boys rolled down the park for us – that was an occasion where I was very glad to be a part of that Bulldogs team,” skipper Michael Ennis told the Big Sports Breakfast radio program.

“They were very strong.

“The desire they had in that last 25 minutes to get the team forward, to give our playmakers and our outside backs a chance to finish it off … boy oh boy Kasiano and Pritchard and T-Rex and (Greg) Eastwood and guys like that in that last 25 were just powerful.”