Ex- Origin star heaps praise on Morgan

Tate shouted as loudly as anyone else for Morgan, saying said he felt humbled watching Morgan take another step towards becoming a long- term successor to Queensland’s Origin dominance that he helped create.

“The world’s at Morgo’s feet,” Tate said, who only exited Origin last year after 13 years of service.

“I’ve been saying that for a couple years, so he can take us as far as he wants too.

“It’s going to be up to him but I’ve got no doubt he’s got a big future.”

Morgan himself said he wants to kick on in Maroon now he has got a taste of sheer euphoria that Origin can bring.

Speaking to the Townsville Bulletin in his exclusive column, Morgan said he wanted to form part of the new brigade that will eventually replace Origin’s most successful generation.

“I certainly hope to keep being a part of it, and after experiencing a game like that it makes you want it a bit more,” he said. “Scoring a try also added to the experience and it’s one I suppose I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

Morgan and Queensland teammate Matt Scott remained in Brisbane overnight, with Morgan having minor surgery to clean out an infected ankle which has troubled him this season, while Scott is enjoying a short break as part of the Cowboys’ bye week.

Origin teammate and Cowboys co- captain Johnathan Thurston also heaped praise on Morgan yesterday.

“He will get a lot of confidence out of his performance and he’ll come back now to club land and look to kick on for the back end of the year,” Thurston said.

Wednesday’s scoreline took almost all of the rugby league community by surprise, including experienced campaigners like Tate.

Tate never saw scoreline coming.

“It’s hard to fathom,” he said. “There was a lot of criticism towards the guys but they answered it, and Mal ( Meninga) blooded some young guys as well, so there’s no reason why we can’t have heaps of success going forward.”

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