Morgan happy young gun Laybutt gets pivotal role
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MICHAEL Morgan says he will back impending NRL debutant Kyle Laybutt ( pictured) to the hilt.
Laybutt has been named at five- eighth for Saturday’s Darwin clash alongside Morgan, who is set to play at halfback even though co- captain Jonathan Thurston completed some contact work at training yesterday.
The fact that Laybutt has been named to start should give the Bundaberg junior a confidence boost alone, Morgan says, and he believed all systems were in place for Laybutt to begin his NRL career with a bang.
“He looks a bit taller and skinnier than most people, but he can be physical and he’s a lot stronger than he looks,” he said.
“Defensively it’s where people are always challenged early in their careers I suppose, and he’s a very good defender who’s more than capable of defending the front line.
“It’s probably a good thing that there has been talk around him and it just hasn’t happened instantly for him, and it’s not a big shock.
“He’ll be excited. His family will be excited and it’s a great moment in his career, and as teammates we want to make it a memorable night for him.”
Morgan himself has endured a testing week both physically and mentally and was given a day’s rest on Tuesday by Cowboys coach Paul Green, who is still deciding whether to field Thurston after two weeks out of club duty because of a shoulder injury suffered in the Anzac Test.
Morgan has been handed the role of North Queensland’s key playmaker in Thurston’s absence and last week appeared at his most comfortable without the Test and Origin star.
Whether Thurston makes his comeback is not at the forefront of Morgan’s pregame preparations.
“I suppose as a team it’s probably easier if he comes back, everyone goes back to their normal role I suppose,” Morgan said.
“( But) as teammates you want to help Kyle and make sure he’s prepared well, so you might focus a bit more as if Kyle’s going to play because everyone’s played with JT before and knows what he does and what their roles are.
“It’s more about helping Kyle I think.
“I’m feeling pretty good myself; Greeny was good enough to give me yesterday off so I’m feeling pretty good now.
“I was able to stay home and I feel not just physically but mentally ( rested) as well from the week that was, so I took advantage of it.”
Morgan is expected to enter Queensland camp again in a fortnight, but says whether Queensland’s forward pack needs an overhaul is a job for selectors.
“I’m in no position to say who shouldn’t be in the team, I don’t feel like I can do that purely because where I’m at in my career and what a number of those guys have done in their careers,” he said.
“I have no idea what’s going to happen in the side.
“Hopefully I’m still there.”