Morgan move could play part in reviving season
THE Cowboys are adamant switching Michael Morgan to fullback can spark their flailing season, but the Maroons star concedes time is running out after Saturday’s heartbreaking 20- 19 home loss to South Sydney.
After threatening changes for weeks, coach Paul Green finally pulled the trigger by dropping fullback Lachlan Coote and back rower Ethan Lowe.
After a superb 2017 where he was crowned Dally M halfback of the year, Morgan has struggled to find that form since the return of Johnathan Thurston this season.
But he was able to get more in- volved at the back, setting up both Cowboys tries to Antonio Winterstein and nailing the field goal which gave them their first lead of the game with five minutes left.
Morgan’s one- on- one tackle on Rabbitohs giant George Burgess may have been the matchwinner had Souths not slotted an after- the- siren penalty goal when Cowboy Jake Granville was ruled off- side the next play.
Cowboys coach Paul Green said the move was designed to find a starting spot for Kiwi international Te Maire Martin, who linked with Thurston in the halves.
“Morgs laid on a couple of tries. At this stage we’ll probably stick with it ( Morgan playing fullback),” Green said. “It was probably more about how we get Te Maire more involved, in previous games when he gets on there he lifts the tempo of how he plays.
“It’s not so much playing Morgo at fullback, it was more about I thought we were more of a threat with ‘ T’ out there as well.
“( Dropping players) is probably the worst part of my job. We had to win and I picked the team what we thought was our best chance given what’s been happening.”
Morgan was brilliant at fullback for the Cowboys in 2014 before helping them to a maiden premiership the next year in the halves.
He said Coote’s team- first attitude to his dumping helped ease the anxie- ty of replacing him in the team.
“We’re really good mates so it’s always hard when you get moved around into each other’s positions,” Morgan said.
“In my opinion he’s still a very good fullback and our best fullback at the club, that’s for sure.
“Credit to Cootey, he came and saw me straight me straight away and the first thing he offered was if I wanted any high balls or anything at training to help out.”
The Cowboys ( 3- 8) now need to win at least nine of their remaining 13 games to play finals.
They have lost four of six at home this year and host reigning premiers Melbourne this Friday.