Any spot will do – but Morgo eyes Aussie No. 6 role

“He’s been playing really good footy the last six to eight weeks and he’s in the front running for it ( the Kangaroos five- eighth jersey),” Thurston said on Monday.

“But that would take away the utility role ( Kangaroos coach) Mal ( Meninga) likes to run with on the bench as well.

“He’s got really good value to the team in that role, but certainly if Mal gave him the number six jersey he’d do it justice.”

Morgan said he was in a better position to start for Australia at the World Cup than he was before the Four Nations.

“It’s been a very different season for me compared to last year,” he said.

“At the end of last year I was pretty surprised to get picked in the Four Nations squad, whereas this year – because of how the Four Nations went last year – I was more confident of being there.

“You never want to be too ahead of yourself and jinx yourself, but with JT not being there, there’s an opportunity.

“There are a couple of other players who can do it as well, so it certainly won’t just happen. I’ll have to try and show that I’m more than capable.”

Morgan conceded his utility value could come into Meninga’s selection calculations.

“If that’s where I’m playing then I’ll be happy just to play,” he said. “I enjoy being around that team and being around that environment, and, to play for your country, it doesn’t matter where I’m needed.”

Morgan also threw his support behind the decision of Cowboys teammate Jason Taumalolo to turn his back on New Zealand and play for Tonga during the World Cup.

“It was pretty brave of him to do it,” he said.

“He grew up in New Zealand but his heritage is Tongan, and he played for them at the last World Cup and really enjoyed it. It will lift the rest of their squad and I guess it spreads the talent across the whole World Cup.”