Morgan denies buying into hype

FRUSTRATED Cowboys stars have hit back at their coach Paul Green, rejecting his suggestion the premiership hype has gone to their heads as pressure builds over their sluggish start.

In the lead- up to Thursday’s crucial clash with Penrith in Townsville, key duo Michael Morgan and Coen Hess strongly denied the Cowboys squad has lost its hunger following last year’s fairytale grand- final charge.

A despondent Green took aim at his players’ attitude and urged them to “stop reading headlines” in the wake of North Queensland’s 30- 14 loss to Melbourne in the grand final replay last Thursday.

Classy pivot Morgan revealed Green lashed the squad with some post- match home truths and while he agrees Cowboys players need to work harder, he dismissed claims they have bought into the hype. Asked if Cowboys players were guilty of reading glowing press on the eve of the new season, the usually affable Morgan bristled.

“I don’t think so, no, I don’t think we do ( read the headlines),” Morgan said.

“I can only speak for myself and it doesn’t really bother me what others are saying.

“We’ve had that expectation in the past on our club, so it hasn’t changed.

“That’s not what is making us play bad, what’s making us play bad is we aren’t clicking into what we need to do with the preparation and video we are doing.

“Greeny is just frustrated. We had a couple of rev- ups from him.”

The Cowboys are outside the top eight with a 1- 2 record but Hess scuppered suggestions they have become complacent. “Not really,” he said.

“Paul just wants what is best for us, he knows what we are capable of and certainly it’s frustrating. It doesn’t just upset him, it upsets all of us.”