Morgan tells fans to lay off Johnson
KANGAROOS five-eighth Michael Morgan may feel on top of the world about playing in the Rugby League World Cup final next weekend, but still has time to be sympathetic towards Shaun Johnson.
The Kangaroos demolished Fiji 54-6 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, putting in a much better performance against the Pacific Island side than the Kiwis did the previous week in Wellington, losing 4-2.
Morgan is having a great World Cup, benefiting from having so many great players around him, while Johnson continues to be a player who gets lambasted more than any other when he’s on the losing side for the Kiwis or Warriors.
Morgan says he feels sorry for Johnson for all the criticism that so often goes his way and he feels that fellow NRL players know how talented he is.
‘‘I do feel for Shaun Johnson,’’ Morgan told Stuff.
‘‘We all know how good of a player he is and being in the halves you do cop the flak if the team isn’t going well.
‘‘I do feel sorry for him. He’s a very good player, talented and one of the best halfbacks in the game.
‘‘He’s a person and he might have his own problems going on, I don’t know, but I’m sure he feels the pressure that’s being put on him.
‘‘That’s another reason why I feel sorry for him, there are 17 players on the field each week and you can’t put it all on one man like him.’’
When the Kiwis played Fiji in their quarterfinal, at times it looked like the rest of the New Zealand team were waiting for Johnson to produce some magic to save them.
In sharp contrast, Morgan has the luxury of doing his job in the halves for the Kangaroos and knowing he’ll have world class players like Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk in the spine with him, as well as the most dominating forward pack in the world.
‘‘That’s very true and that’s the good thing about this team,’’ he said of the Kangaroos.
‘‘Everyone is accountable for their role and has a responsibility.
‘‘They do their best to meet that and if each individual is doing that it helps the team.
‘‘I do feel for Shaun, there’s no doubt he’s trying hard and wants to win, but I’m sure he’s not the only one feeling the pressure, but it’s a tough spot to be in.’’
Meanwhile, Morgan said he was impressed with how his Cowboys team-mate, Te Maire GETTY IMAGES Martin, played in his two tests for the Kiwis during the World Cup.
Martin joined the Townsvillebased club midway through the season from the Panthers and filled in for injured star playmaker Johnathan Thurston, helping them get to the grand final.
‘‘He was really good for us and he had to learn a fair bit on the run,’’ Morgan said.
‘‘But he did a great job with that and was a very handy pick up for us this year.
‘‘He fitted in well off the field and that showed on the field with the way he was playing.
‘‘The more that Te Maire is around someone like Johnathan Thurston each week and learning off him, it’s only going to make him a better player.’’
Morgan had to wait until yesterday’s semifinal between Tonga and England in Auckland to know who he’d be up against in next weekend’s final in Brisbane.
But regardless of who won that game, the Kangaroos will be the red hot favourites. They’ve scored 204 points in their five games so far and conceded just 16.
‘ He's a very good player, talented and one of the best halfbacks in the game.’ MICHAEL MORGAN