Morgan move to No. 1 may be godsend, Green says
MAROONS star Michael Morgan’s last- minute positional switch to fullback could be the confidence boost he needs to help spark an unlikely finals charge for the Cowboys.
That’s the belief of Morgan’s club coach Paul Green who has backed the Townsville product to thrive in the custodian role in tonight’s Origin series opener in Melbourne.
Morgan was initially named as a bench utility for Queensland, but he has been promoted to fullback after 29- game veteran Billy Slater was forced to withdraw due to a hamstring injury.
Morgan trained at fullback during yesterday’s captain’s run and he is no stranger to the No. 1 jersey, having spent a whole season at the back for the Cowboys in 2014.
His best Cowboys performances this season have come since shifting from the halves before heading into Origin camp and Green was confident Morgan would let not his state down as a fullback.
“He’ll handle it no worries,” Green said. “He’s played a couple of good games for us there ( this season) and he had a full season back there and got better as the year went on.
“Hopefully, he gets a good game under his belt.”
Morgan’s versatility has long been his greatest asset as a representative player and Queensland coach Kevin Walters said the 26- year- old had the talent to handle his newest role.
“Morgs has been our Mr Fix- It now for several years,” Walters said.
“He played in the centres for us last year and was outstanding and I think in his last couple of weeks at fullback for the Cowboys he has really turned around their attack.
“Michael is a mature player and can handle the expectation that comes with playing fullback for the Maroons. Just watching him ( yesterday) at training, I’m really confident he’s going to do a fantastic job for us.”
Morgan is one of three Cowboys in the Maroons line- up along with backrowers Gavin Cooper and Coen Hess.
The Cowboys are languishing in 14th this season with just four wins and Green said he had encouraged the trio to embrace the Origin atmosphere and bring that energy back to their club side.
“I said to all of those boys before they went into camp, forget about us for the time being and go and enjoy being in a new environment,” Green said. “Get some confidence out of training and knocking around those other Origin players and bring that confidence with you when you come back to us.”