Manly a Morgan magnet

HE SPENT the weekend at Cronulla with good mate Valentine Holmes and liked the view of Manly as the Kangaroos set up camp yesterday.

Now Michael Morgan says he will not rule out a permanent move to Sydney as his contract talks ramp up immediately following the World Cup.

With James Maloney, Matt Moylan and Mitchell Pearce all part of the current playmaker merry- go- round, Morgan will push close to $ 1 million- aseason once his own deal expires at the end of next season.

Free to negotiate with rival clubs, Morgan, 25, is keen to remain with North Queensland, who have already tabled a deal understood to be worth about $ 3.2 million over four years to become Johnathan Thurston’s halfback successor.

But Morgan is happy to test his market value, including in Sydney, where plenty of clubs would be keen to chase the Queensland star.

“You don’t want to rule out ( Sydney) because the way the game is these days, anything can happen,’’ Morgan said.

“If I was to say I will never play for another club and then a couple of years later I am at another club, it makes me look silly. My preference would be up there ( in Townsville) because I am up there, my family is from up there.

“You see guys who have been at one club for a long time have to change. At the moment I am confident I will be able to stay there.”

Cowboys general manager of football Peter Parr said now the collective bargaining agreement had been thrashed out, they were keen to move on Morgan once his World Cup commitments were finished.

“Our desire is to keep him at the club and I’m confident that will happen,’’ Parr said.