NRL 2015: Cowboys half Michael Morgan a future State of Origin star — Five things we learnt
AFTER years of searching for Johnathan Thurston’s scrumbase partner, coach Paul Green has found his man in Michael Morgan. Five things we learnt!
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NORTH Queensland won a thriller against Canterbury on Saturday night and here are five things we learnt about the Cowboys following their 23-16 victory.
1. Michael Morgan is a future Origin superstar.
After years of searching for Johnathan Thurston’s scrumbase partner, coach Paul Green has found his man in Morgan.
The 23-year-old was so dynamic at fullback last season you couldn’t argue if Green kept him there, but Morgan is equally potent in the No.6 jumper.
He broke the game open on Saturday night by scoring the first try and then sealed victory five minutes from time with a 60-metre burst.
He will be a key weapon when the Cowboys lose Thurston to Origin duty.
2. Matt Scott and Johnathan Thurston need to lift for the Origin.
The pair were by no means poor last night but the heavy Test loss to New Zealand has taken a slight edge off their games.
Thurston produced a rare gaffe, throwing an intercept pass for Curtis Rona. Scott ran for 120 metres but we’ve seen him amass 200m-plus at his optimum.
3. The absence of Jason Taumalolo leaves an irreplaceable void.
The sight of Taumalolo storming through the rucks is crucial in laying the platform for Thurston’s creative genius but without him, the Cowboys lose a stack of metres in midfield.
John Asiata tried hard last night but there’s only one Taumalolo.
4. They lack three-quarter strikepower.
The likes of Matt Wright, Justin O’Neill and Kane Linnett are good first-graders but they don’t have the fear factor or game-breaking magic of a Justin Hodges or Josh Morris.
Canterbury’s defence looked comfortable last night when the Cowboys swung the ball wide.
5. Robert Lui’s career at the Cowboys is all but over.
Lui has some wonderful natural gifts but the playmaking triumvirate of Thurston, Morgan and fullback Lachlan Coote has closed the door on him.
Currently languishing with Townsville in the Intrust Super Cup, Lui needs a new start to reignite his NRL career.
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