Morgan to flick centre switch
THE mastermind behind two of the most thrilling tries in league history is set to bring his running game to Origin.
Michael Morgan will line up at centre in next week’s Origin decider after Queensland announced Cameron Munster would make his Maroons debut at five-eighth.
Far from being disappointed though, Morgan sees the change as a chance to concentrate on his running game, a generally under-rated aspect of his play despite the massive dividends it has brought.
Morgan was the architect of the try that helped North Queensland’s Kyle Feldt level the grand final in 2015 and his magical flick pass for winger Dane Gagai helped Queensland to a series-levelling Origin II win.
“Obviously I do prefer playing in the halves but from a team point of view I completely understand the decision and I’m more than happy with it,” he said of coach Kevin Walters’ choice of an all-Storm spine for Queensland.
“The difference between the two positions it that centre is a lot more individually focused.
“You’re not talking and organising anywhere near as what you do in the halves.
“So it gives me a chance to focus more on my own game.”
That could be a boon for Queensland, with Morgan more than capable of finding a big play at a crucial moment.
Both his pass for Feldt and his miracle ball for Gagai last month have been instinctual plays, honed after years of playing both league and touch.
“It’s not something I plan on doing ever,” he said.
“It’s just reaction and playing a lot of footy over the years.
“It’s just that opportunities present themselves and I’ve been lucky that those two (passes) have come off.
“There’s probably other games where I’ve tried something and it hasn’t come off.
“I’m lucky those two get remembered a bit more than other things.”
Morgan also said he was confident he could shut down Blues threat Josh Dugan.
“There obviously is a lot of one-on-one situations so your one-on-one defence has to be good,” he said.
“Against Josh Dugan who is a very good attacking player, and a big body, the one-on-one defence has to be good.”
Morgan could find himself in the halves in stints though, with Walters leaving open the option to switch with Munster.
“Kev said we’re more than welcome to (switch places). He’ll leave that up to us given it’s Cam’s first game and I’m sure he might be feeling tired,” Morgan said.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO POSITIONS IT THAT CENTRE IS A LOT MORE INDIVIDUALLY FOCUSED MORGAN ON HIS ROLE AT CENTRE
COEN Hess says he is ready to make an early impact if called off the bench in the first half of Origin III after playing just 19 minutes in his debut match.
The man mountain made just three runs for 14m in his stint late in Origin II as coach Kevin Walters eased him into the pressure-cooker environment.
But Hess said he would be ready to go if called on earlier next Wednesday night.
“I guess I will have to be, when you run out on the field it’s obviously a very fast game, you have to be ready to go,” Hess said.
“Coming off the bench, it’s your responsibility to maintain what the starting pack have done.
“Sometimes you go out when the other forwards are fatigued or you go out there when they are fresh as well, (so) I guess there is a responsibility there to create an impact or spark so we will be doing that.”
At 194cm and 110kg, the 20-year-old is tailor made for Origin football and ready to take on the likes of Blues giants Andrew Fifita, Aaron Woods and David Klemmer.
“There is not one player in particular (I’m looking