Morgan injury lingers

Cautious coach says playmaker likely to miss Broncos blockbuster

MICHAEL Morgan is in danger of missing the Cowboys’ clash with the Broncos after coach Paul Green revealed the playmaker is still struggling with an abdominal injury.

The North Queensland star suffered the strain at a training session early last week and was ruled out of his team’s opening showdown with the Sharks.

The Cowboys were confident he would return for Fri- day night’s Round 2 blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium and he has been named in the team’s extended squad.

But Green is now preparing to be without Morgan, with the 26-year-old yet to prove his fitness.

“He’s still a chance but I’d say it’s more than likely he won’t be playing,” Green said.

“It’s about being able to train pain-free and then also pulling up well the next day. It’s one of those injuries that you just don’t know how they’re going to recover.

“Once you do a bit (of training), you might feel all right but then pull up pretty sore the next day.

“The risk with those is if you push them too hard too early, they drag on for quite a while.

“I want to give him until Thursday ... but I would say he’s unlikely to play.”

Green said the injury had forced Morgan to sit out parts of yesterday’s training session. Te Maire Martin has been named in the starting side as Morgan’s replacement but would move to the bench as a utility if the Queensland and Australian star manages to prove his fitness.

Fullback Lachlan Coote will not make his return for the clash as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

Green said Coote would be back by Round 3 “at the earliest”, with Ben Hampton to again fill in for the off-contract star.

Meanwhile, Green said the NRL had not given the Cowboys any indication whether they would clear Todd Carney to play after the Cowboys officially lodged a request to register the playmaker in first grade again.