Morgan ready for weight of the crown

COWBOYS dynamo Michael Morgan says he is ready for the pressure and expectation of taking over from Johnathan Thurston and becoming the king of the north.

Morgan will take on a more senior role in North Queensland’s playmaking set- up this season despite the return of four- time Dally M Medal champion Thurston from in- jury. Morgan, who last week inked a five- year deal to stay at the Cowboys, guided North Queensland to a fairytale grand final appearance last season with a sensational run of form.

The 26- year- old stepped up when Thurston’s season was ended by a shoulder injury and produced such a hot streak that he finished runner- up in the Dally M Medal tally to Storm champion Cameron Smith. Now an established Test and Origin star, Morgan is more comfortable with his position at the Cowboys, who have been dominated by Thurston since his arrival in 2005.

Thurston, 34, will retire at season’s end and Morgan said he was ready to take over the reins.

“With him finishing up this year, I’d like to think I can take on more of a role like I did last year,” Morgan said. “I really enjoyed doing that. It’s something I would still like to do.

“I want to still do a bit of it this year, without us getting in the way of each other. It’s about getting the balance right.

“Long- term, I’d love to have a big role within the team.

“I think the expectation will be there – I’m not silly.

“I want to keep getting better and improve. If I keep challenging myself then hopefully that happens.”