CHANGING MORGAN DEFENDS SHIFT IN PLAYING STYLE LANES

COWBOYS captain Michael Morgan has come out swinging at critics who have lamented the drop in his running game.

Morgan once averaged almost 15 line-breaks a year but has made five in the past two years.

“I do miss open space, but the way I have been playing is to stop defenders and create space on the outside,” Morgan said ahead of this afternoon’s clash against the Newcastle Knights.

“Previously I could just worry about running and where my opportunities were.”

Picture: EVAN MORGAN RIVALRY LIVES ON: Liam Phelps and Rylee Caspanello are part of the North Queensland teams taking on Far North Queensland in the Frank Farina Cup.