Morgan fine to play

COWBOYS coach Paul Green says five- eighth Michael Morgan is moving freely and feeling better than he has all year as he prepares to play just 10 days after surgery.

Morgan will start tonight against Manly following a minor procedure to clean out an infection in his ankle which has caused him pain for much of the year.

The 23- year- old has still managed to be one of the Cowboys’ standouts this year and played his way into Mal Meninga’s Queensland State of Origin squad.

“He’s moving a lot freer and in far less pain, which is a good thing,” Green said.

“He trained well and ( Saturday) was the first time he has run ( since the surgery) and he said he hadn’t felt that good for a long time.

“It’s obviously done what it’s supposed to do with the procedure he’s had.”

Green hoped the lack of pain and the high of playing in Queensland’s State of Origin series win over NSW would see Morgan return with plenty of fire.

“If he was playing the way he was and putting up with that ( pain), hopefully that might mean an uplift in his performance,” the Cowboys coach said.

“Also I think coming back from that Origin experience, he should take a lot of confi-

He’s moving a lot freer and in far less pain, which is good

PAUL GREEN

dence out of that and I’ve said it before, hopefully it will take Morgo to the next level for us.”

Despite declaring Morgan fit to play, utility Ray Thompson was added to the Cowboys travelling party to Sydney as 18th man.

The Sea Eagles are coming off the back of a 38- 6 thumping of the Gold Coast Titans and Green expected them to be firing at Brookvale Oval tonight.

“They’ve had their best players on the field consistently for a few weeks now and that’s why they’re back to playing like we know Manly can play,” he said.

“They’ve had a couple of good wins and they’ve been in great form and it will be a great game, we’re looking forward to it. Brett Stewart, his combination with Foran will be really important and all those combinations are getting better and better each week.

“They’ll be a different team to the one we played a few rounds ago,” Green said.