Michael Morgan won’t mimic Johnathan Thurston when he plays at halfback against Cronulla

COWBOYS halfback Michael Morgan has no plans to mimic Johnathan Thurston when he steps into the role occupied by the world’s greatest player.

North Queensland Cowboys against Brisbane Broncos at 1300SMILES Stadium. Cowboys Michael Morgan. Picture: Evan Morgan

NORTH Queensland halfback Michael Morgan has no plans to mimic Johnathan Thurston when he steps into the role occupied by the world’s greatest player for Saturday’s clash with Cronulla.

Morgan will wear the No. 7 jersey with Thurston being rested from the Sharks clash in Townsville, but while he accepts more responsibility will now fall upon his shoulders the Queensland Origin star is not about to change the way he plays his own game.

“I won’t be trying to be JT that is for sure. That would be pretty hard,” Morgan said.

“I don’t think it’s how it used to be, we never used to win when he was out.

“I think the way Greeny has us playing with the structures now, if people do their job individually we go well.

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“In the past it was sort of a lot relied on JT, it was hard to win without him, now and we’ve said it all year as long as people play their role we will do all right.”

The influence of Thurston on the Cowboys is evident in their win-loss record over the past five years.

With Thurston on the field the Cowboys have won 63 of 102 games at 61.8 per cent, scoring on average 23.7 points and conceding 17.9.

Without Thurston the Cowboys have won just five of 14 games at 35.7 per cent, scoring just 18 points while conceding 25.6.

Cowboys fans only need to cast their minds back to Round 11 when their gritty team chipped away for a 8-0 win over the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown when both Thurston and Morgan were out along with Origin duo Matt Scott and James Tamou.

Fullback Lachlan Coote was man of the match and in total command while Rory Kostjasyn was rock solid, playing a steady hand at five-eighth.

“Rory is very reliable that is one thing, he is very good defensively and he will go out there and do his job for his team,” Morgan said.

“That is what is expected of him and he knows that, he is one of the most reliable guys in the team so it makes sense to put him there.

“If that means I have to get involved a bit more than I’m happy to do that. Cootey is still there and has been going very good so we will just see how it goes.”

Morgan meanwhile said he expects to be dropped for the Origin decider if Cooper Cronk is declared fit.

Cronk is pushing to play for the Storm on Monday night, a game which kicks off a few hours after Queensland’s Origin III team will be named.

If Cronk overcomes a knee injury to play for Queensland, Morgan expects Daly Cherry-Evans to replace him as bench utility.

“I think if everyone is fit and ready to go I will miss out but I am fine with that,” he said.

“I’m not going to be down in the dumps or anything about it. Honestly it doesn’t faze me too much.

“Honestly it’s hard because I loved being in there and being part of it all but at the same time I know how loyal they are and Daly is more experienced than I am. He is a very good player as well, if I miss out to a guy like him.

“Of course I want it, I definitely do, if the opportunity came I would be over the moon again.

“I’m smart enough to know the way the game is and the guys who are ahead of me they are good players, it’s not like I’d be down in the dumps missing out because of them.’’