Changes to selection as Morgan gets call-up
THE Cowboys will take the pre-season wrapping off playmaker Michael Morgan and recruit Jordan Kahu against Melbourne on Saturday in Mackay.
Coach Paul Green said Morgan, who is set this year to don the No.7 jersey worn with distinction by Johnathan Thurston, would step out for the first time in a season.
Kahu and centres Justin O’Neill and Ben Hampton are others Green expects to pick after they sat out a 22-16 win over Gold Coast at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Where Broncos recruit Kahu, who hopes to become the Cowboys fullback, plays in Mackay will partly depend on the fitness of other outside backs.
Wingers Murray Taulagi and Kurt Wiltshire have knee injuries which Green said were fairly serious.
“He (Kahu) will play against the Storm, at fullback I’d say but I’m not set on that because we picked up some injuries to outside backs,” Green said.
“Morgo will play (this) week. We didn’t play him because I wanted to give Te Maire Martin and Jake Clifford full games as the halves.
“Justin O’Neill will get a start … and Ben Hampton has trained in the centres for most of the pre-season.
“Tom Opacic was good (in the centres against Gold Coast) and Javid Bowen did some good things. It’s healthy competition.”
Green said he wanted the team to take on Melbourne to be close to the side he fields in the first round of the premiership against St George Illawarra on March 16.