Morgan determined to live up to expectation
TRAVIS MEYN COWBOYS five-eighth Michael Morgan admits he is playing under the weight of expectation following his breakout season and is still carrying a painful stomach injury.
Morgan is desperate to fire against the Bulldogs at 1300SMILES Stadium tonight following a sluggish start to the year.
The 26-year-old was the hero of North Queensland’s run to last year’s grand final, producing a sublime patch of form which made him the NRL’s most dangerous player.
He earned the Kangaroos’ five-eighth duties for the World Cup and entered this season as the hot favourite for the Maroons’ No.7 jersey.
But an abdominal injury delayed Morgan’s start to the season until Round 3, and he has struggled to replicate his 2017 heroics in three losses.
Having recently signed a $5 million, five-year contract, the expectations on Morgan are higher this season and the Cowboys pivot said he was determined to live up to them.
“There is more expectation and I don’t want my game to go backwards at all,” he said.
“I’m not over the moon (with my form).
“I’m working hard to keep getting better.”
Morgan reported for preseason training late in the piece after playing in Australia’s successful World Cup campaign.
And an abdominal injury, which also affects his groin, surfaced on the eve of the season and is yet to dissipate.
“It will be lingering for a while,” Morgan said.
Cowboys forward Coen Hess said the team’s big men in the middle had to provide a better base for Morgan and Johnathan Thurston to fire.
“There is 17 in the team and it’s pretty unfair that those two are getting all the blame,” Hess said.
“Us big boys can create a better platform and give them more time to play. They are two of the best playmakers in the competition.
“The onus is on us to lay them a good platform so they can do what they do.”