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Wigan: Brett Morris said a change in his training since joining the Roosters helped save his career.

The former Canterbury winger enjoyed a "special debut", bagging a first-half hat-trick in the NRL premiers' World Club Challenge victory against Wigan on Sunday (Monday, AEDT).

"I've done a few things I haven't done for a long time," Morris said.

"Certain things in the gym I probably haven't done for 10 years. I definitely think they're going to help my game this year.

"I probably pushed the boundaries with my body, which in the past couple of years, I probably haven't been able to do. I was feeling a lot more powerful out there tonight."

The former Australian and NSW winger silenced his doubters with a man-of-the-match performance in the 20-8 win at DW Stadium.

"I'm 32. A lot of people say I'm old and past it. To me, I don't feel that old," Morris said.

Match Highlights: Wigan Warriors v Sydney Roosters

"I still feel I can play really good footy for the Roosters, and that's the plan."

What made Morris' performance even more remarkable was that he was playing in the centres for the first time in his professional career.

"To score three tries and get man of the match is pretty special," he said.

"It's a pretty special occasion. I've played Tests here, I've played another World Club Challenge here and had success, so it's a ground I enjoy coming and playing at, and tonight was no different."

That character trait in never giving up with the ball and that desire to finish off, that's high, high end

Trent Robinson on Brett Morris

While the Tricolours claimed a record-equalling fourth WCC title, Morris picked up his second WCC man-of-the-match award.

The 237-game veteran bagged two tries playing for St George Illawarra against Wigan in the 2011 fixture.

"My mum sent me a message this morning actually. She said 'Good luck. Try and get man of the match again' and I just laughed at her and said 'Yeah I'll do my best', but to go out there and do it is a different thing," Morris said.

Trent Robinson's decision to bring the former Bulldog to the club was justified in his first hit-out.

The premiership-winning coach said Morris' second try was the highlight of his performance.

"Very rarely do you highlight effort in tries as a character trait," Robinson said.

Dream club debut for Morris

"Usually you highlight it in defence or cover defence or pressure or something like that, but the character trait that he showed in never giving up with the ball. That just summed up his night and what he did for our game tonight as well.

"That character trait in never giving up with the ball and that desire to finish off, that's high, high end."

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National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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