Morgan’s the only one to fill big shoes

MICHAEL Morgan, step up.

The Maroons do not need to look too far to find the man to replace Johnathan Thurston for the State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium on July 12.

His Cowboys, Maroons and Test teammate Michael Morgan is the logical replacement for Immortal-inwaiting Thurston, who has been ruled out of the rest of the season with a serious shoulder injury.

The final game of the interstate series was meant to be Thurston’s farewell match in a Maroons jumper, but the damage done to his shoulder requires surgery and a six-month rehabilitation.

Thurston’s final act for his beloved Maroons was kicking the match-winning conversion in Wednesday night’s instant classic at ANZ Stadium.

But the Maroons cannot waste time lamenting the loss of Thurston, who joins a Queensland casualty ward that includes Greg Inglis, Matt Scott and Anthony Milford.

Darius Boyd also will miss the Origin decider, who was to have surgery yesterday on a broken thumb he suffered in Origin II. He is expected to be out for four to six weeks.

With Milford also sidelined with a shoulder injury, Morgan should slot into the starting side at five-eighth, where he plays for the Cowboys.

With Boyd out, Dane Gagai could move into the centre, with Corey Oates, who played in Origin I, on the wing.

Morgan supplied a beautiful pass for the Gagai try that levelled the scores on Wednesday before Thurston did his thing.

He threw a similar pass for a Kyle Feldt try that helped the Cowboys squeeze into golden point in the 2015 NRL grand final.

He has produced on the big stage before. He can slot seamlessly into the starting side. He knows the calls, he knows the plays.

Morgan is the only legitimate option.