Michael Morgan to sign a $5 million deal to become a Cowboy for life

MICHAEL Morgan has joined the NRL’s exclusive club of millionaires with the Queensland Origin star to sign a mega deal that will make him a Cowboy for life.

Michael Morgan will earn his due as one of the game’s elite players.

MICHAEL Morgan has joined the NRL’s exclusive club of millionaires with the Queensland Origin star to sign a mega $5 million deal that will make him a Cowboy for life.

The Sunday Mail can reveal the Cowboys are in the final stages of broking the first $1 million contract of Morgan’s career — shutting the door on poaching raids from cashed-up Sydney clubs.

Cowboys coach Paul Green, football-operations chief Peter Parr and Morgan’s management have discussed a five-year extension.

The terms are palatable to Morgan, whose agent will finalise paperwork over the next fortnight securing the Test playmaker to the Cowboys until the end of 2023.

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The Cowboys didn’t want to waste time re-signing Morgan.

North Queensland bosses are hoping to formally announce Morgan’s retention after he plays in the Johnathan Thurston-Cam Smith testimonial match at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

The Cowboys have been tight-lipped about the terms of the deal, but it can be revealed Morgan is the NRL’s next millionaire.

He will ostensibly inherit the contract previously handed to the retiring Thurston, whose $1 million deal — brokered five years ago — expires at season’s end.

The Cowboys were in danger of losing the off-contract Morgan to Sydney rivals after his red-hot finals series last year but their lucrative package has scuppered any poaching threat.

Speaking exclusively with The Sunday Mail yesterday, North Queensland supremo Laurence Lancini said the club will not lose the playmaker, who will steer the Cowboys in the post-Thurston era.

It is Morgan who can steer the club post Johnathan Thurston. (Alix Sweeney)

“We’re confident Michael is staying. There won’t be a problem,” he said.

“I don’t know if other Sydney clubs are chasing him and I don’t really care because our negotiations are going fine.

“Michael is a local Townsville boy. He is an important part of our club and we’re confident we’ll do a deal with him.

“He is the perfect player to build a club around. Michael is also a quality human being and with Thurston retiring, we’re doing everything in our power to keep him.”

The 26-year-old Morgan’s soaring salary underscores his meteoric rise.

His existing contract, signed in 2015, is worth around $400,000 but his annual salary will more than double in the wake of his superb 2017 finals series and elevation to the Test and Origin arenas.

In the process, Morgan will enter the NRL’s select millionaire’s club, joining Thurston, Smith, Daly Cherry-Evans, Greg Inglis, Ben Hunt, Jason Taumalolo, James Tedesco and Anthony Milford.

The Cowboys have shown they are not afraid to table long-term deals, signing Dally M-winning wrecking ball Taumalolo to a 10-year contract last year.

Morgan recently told The Sunday Mail he wanted his future sorted before the Cowboys’ premiership-opener against Cronulla on March 9. His halves partner and mentor, Thurston, said the Cowboys could not afford to lose the Townsville junior.

“It’s very important Morgan commits,” Thurston said. “He’s a local product. Hopefully he can put pen-to-paper soon.

“We’ve got a few of the boys off-contract, so hopefully we can get him done sooner rather than later.

“He is a big part of our team and club. No doubt ‘Morgo’ is the bloke for the future of the club as well.”

Morgan will earn his due as one of the game’s elite players. (Evan Morgan)

WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE?

The NRL’s $1 million-a-season players

JOHNATHAN THURSTON (Cowboys)

CAMERON SMITH (Storm)

DALY CHERRY-EVANS (Manly)

GREG INGLIS (Souths)

BEN HUNT (Dragons)

JASON TAUMALOLO (Cowboys)

JAMES TEDESCO (Roosters)

ANTHONY MILFORD (Broncos)

MICHAEL MORGAN (Cowboys)