Morgan is a machine
FORWARD PLAYS DOWN PRAISE
CELEBRATED coach John Kear claims his dream team would be made up entirely of Morgan Knowles, 13 times over.
Legendary hooker James Roby has also labelled Knowles as the man who “epitomises everything a rugby league player can and should be”.
And England coach Shaun Wane, below, says the St Helens forward is the next Sean O’Loughlin, and for a boss who is notoriously hard to please there is no higher praise.
But the 24-year-old forward says he’s “never been the most talented or fastest or strongest” player in the game.
It is a personal assessment that’s turned him into a machine when it comes to the hard graft.
Knowles hopes to put in another monumental stint in Saturday’s Challenge Cup final against Castleford and will then happily carry on in his understated way.
He said: “I have never been the best but I never give in. I always knew that if I wanted to be a success I had to be good at the mental side of the game.
“I’ve never been the most talented, fastest or strongest but I will do things that others won’t. When games are tough I will never look for an easy out. Other people will break before I do.”
Knowles’ phenomenal drive had doctors in a nervous state after aWales game against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby in the 2017World Cup.
Wales coach Kear said: “The humidity and temperature was ridiculously high and we got flogged.
“But the one person who was head and shoulders above everyone else was Morgan. He played 73 minutes in sauna-like conditions and his temperature had risen that much that the doctor had to keep him in the ice baths for a long time.”
Knowles added: “The lads were soaking up the atmosphere after the game but I was going really hot and then shivering. I’d just wanted to keep going in the game.”
Much of his incredible workload in the pack is overlooked by fans. But his recent try-scoring exploits for England and his performances for Saints are now starting to shatter that quiet reputation.
But Knowles is happy to stay in the shadows. He said: “I’m fairly private and not super big on social media.”
Free time is spent doing up the house he bought with his partner, Rhyanna, or making regular trips back to the Lake District. He said: “I am a proud Cumbrian. I love getting back there.”