Morgan rebuffs talk of No. 1 job
COWBOYS star Michael Morgan has quashed suggestions that he’s set for a permanent switch to fullback to help rejuvenate North Queensland’s misfiring attack.
Regular custodian Lachlan Coote was benched in the final stages of Saturday night’s 18- 8 loss to the Raiders with Morgan pushed to the back as the Cowboys desperately chased points.
The out- of- sorts five- eighth looked more threatening at fullback and coach Paul Green would not rule out keeping Morgan in the No. 1 jersey against the Panthers this Friday night.
But if a shake- up is in the works then the man himself is still in the dark after Morgan palmed off questions about playing fullback yesterday, saying: “I’m not, I don’t think.
“I’m sure ‘ Greeny’ wouldn’t have made up his mind what his plans are for this week,” Morgan said.
“I know that he doesn’t usually know what he is going to do until a few days in and after we’ve reviewed the game. I went back there, but it was only 10 or 15 minutes so it’s not something I’m expecting to do full- time or anything.”
Morgan’s breakout season in first grade came at fullback in 2014 when he filled in after then new recruit Coote suffered a season- ending ACL injury playing at the Auckland Nines.
The 26- year- old said he would feel comfortable if asked to wear the No. 1 jersey again, but he was adamant it wasn’t something he was preparing to do.
“The fitness will be the biggest thing. There’s a lot more running back there, but at the moment I’m not thinking that I’m going back there either,” Morgan ( pictured) said. “It’s only been a couple of short stints in a couple of games this year. Last week I did it because ‘ Cootey’ hurt his ribs and the other night I think ‘ Greeny’ was just trying something at the end.
“It’s not something I’m expecting to do too much of.”
The Cowboys desperately need to find their mojo after slumping to a 2- 6 record and Morgan said they had failed to make the most of their attacking opportunities against Canberra.
Morgan burst into open space late in the game before losing the ball in a jolting tackle from Raiders fullback Jack Wighton and he conceded they had made it too easy for the visitors.
“It wasn’t great footy that beat us at times. They scored some pretty easy tries that were straight through our defence and that’s what’s disappointing about it,” Morgan said.
“It is frustrating because we work through the week on things that we want to do in the game and the other night there were opportunities that we probably didn’t make the most of. Mine was a perfect example of that, so that’s why when it keeps happening it does get quite frustrating.”
The Cowboys face a challenging road trip to Bathurst to face the Panthers on Friday night, but Morgan was hopeful the extra travel wouldn’t hinder their performance.
“We’re going down a day earlier to get the travel out of the way so hopefully we can settle in and start to win,” he said.