The lure of an extra season in the NRL was what partly enticed Josh Morris to end his 10-year stint at Canterbury and head to Cronulla from 2019.
Morris' signature is set to be officially unveiled by the Sharks on Wednesday when he heads to Southern Cross Group Stadium to formally sign his contract, however the move was confirmed by the Bulldogs on Tuesday.
The two-year deal is set to take the 31-year-old into a 14th season in the NRL since he debuted for St George Illawarra back in 2007, having since gone on to play 255 matches.
And he said the extended length of the deal - compared to the one-year contracted offered by the Bulldogs - was the major reason behind his move to the Sharks.
"We were looking ultimately at a two-year deal just to have that security," he told Triple M's Rush Hour.
"The Bulldogs offered a one-year deal. I've got a young family now so I've got to look after them and do what's best for them.
"I still feel like I've still got some good football in me.
"I could've taken the one year at the Bulldogs and been comfortable there. But this takes me out of my comfort zone and at this point of my career it's probably something I need."
Morris' move comes after the Sharks have previously tried to sign him when he was off contract, and made him the third big name to confirm his departure from the Bulldogs in the past month after Aaron Woods and Moses Mbye left immediately.
However unlike those two mid-season releases for salary cap reasons, Canterbury chief executive Andrew Hill said the Bulldogs made a significant play to keep the former NSW State of Origin centre.
"The club made him an extremely competitive offer to stay, but he has decided to take up a contract with the Sharks," Hill said in a statement.
"We are disappointed to see him leave but we understand that he has done what he thinks is right at this stage of his career.
"We look forward to seeing him finish this season strongly with the club and leaving with some great memories."
Morris' move gives the Sharks an all-star backline alongside Josh Dugan at fullback, Valentine Holmes on the wing and Matt Moylan at five-eighth.
Meanwhile Morris' twin brother Brett's future also remains up in the air given he is off contract at the end of the year.
The former NSW and Kangaroos winger is hoping to have his future sorted within weeks with a preference to remain in the NRL, after having spoken to numerous clubs.
