Million reasons to stay a Cowboy
THE Cowboys could be forced to pay up to $ 1.1 million a season to retain Michael Morgan as the club prepares to ramp up contract talks with the Origin sensation.
Morgan’s management will fly to Townsville today to begin negotiations with Cowboys’ hierarchy, who view the Test playmaker as the long- term successor to retiring champion Johnathan Thurston.
The departure of Thurston next season will free up funds for Morgan but North Queensland still face a major financial outlay to secure the most sought- after player on the open market.
It is understood the off- contract Morgan will seek a minimum of $ 900,000 and as much as $ 1.1 million annually on his next deal to guarantee the World Cup ace commits to the Cowboys for the long term.
Cowboys coach Paul Green is confident of keeping Morgan and the Test star’s manager says he has no plans to source rival offers if he can strike the right deal with North Queensland.
“Michael’s preference is to stay at the Cowboys,” his agent Paul Sutton said.
“We’ve had some preliminary discussions but I’ll be going to Townsville next week to have further talks.
“There would be a heap of Sydney clubs who would be interested in ‘ Morgo’ but I haven’t looked at other options at this stage.
“I’ll look to do a deal with the Cowboys first. If that doesn’t happen, then we’ll look elsewhere.”
The Cowboys face some major retention headaches. They have 18 players off contract this season, including Javid Bowen, Justin O’Neill and Lachlan Coote, who has played a key role at fullback alongside Morgan in the Cowboys’ playmaking spine.
Morgan recently told the Townsville Bulletin he was prepared to test his value on the open market following his career- best form as the Cowboys charged into the NRL grand final last year.
“I don’t want to be seen as a guy who would never leave because I would be more than happy to live somewhere else or play for another club,” the 26- year- old said.
“The Cowboys have been very good to me and I won’t forget that but your career is very short compared to your life after football.
“I spoke with the Cowboys before I went away and they let me know they wanted me to stay. It was nice of them to say that.
“It’s hard for me, I haven’t been in this position before. This is the first time I’ve come off contract so it’s all new to me.
“I don’t even know how it all works, I usually read about other people’s contracts.
“But I want to get it sorted sooner rather than later. I don’t want to take my contract talks into the new season and have things up in the air ... I don’t want any distractions.”