Revealed: Paul Green, Michael Morgan butt heads at function

North Queensland coach Paul Green and captain Michael Morgan have added to the tensions at the club after engaging in a heated exchange after last week’s thrashing by Newcastle.

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North Queensland’s season has gone from bad to worse after it emerged coach Paul Green and captain Michael Morgan were involved in a heated disagreement at a sponsor function only hours after the club’s loss to Newcastle last weekend.

The Saturday Telegraph understands the pair were at drinks with a small group of corporate backers following the 42-6 defeat when they became embroiled in a verbal disagreement that prompted Morgan to ask whether Green was questioning his leadership.

It is understood the pair cleared the air during the week, but the incident serves to highlight the tension in Townsville after a year in which the club has suffered a series of setbacks that ruined any chance they had of playing finals football.

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Paul Green and Michael Morgan were involved in an argument last weekend. Picture: Shae Beplate.

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A season that began with great hope has imploded after a spate of injuries unlike any in the club’s history. Green has been charged with picking up the pieces but so cruel have the injury gods been, he has been unable to keep the Cowboys in contention.

Green is in the first year of a lucrative contract extension with the Cowboys and there is no suggestion he is under threat, having guided the club to the first premiership in their history only four years ago.

He backed that up by taking the club to the 2017 grand final, largely on the back of his current skipper Morgan. However, the club has struggled since then, fizzling out during Johnathan Thurston’s last year at the club and then failing to make inroads on the top eight this year.

The exchange came after the Round 22 loss to Newcastle. Picture: Darren Pateman

The poor results this season prompted some in the media to suggest Green was losing the playing group. However, Morgan was among the senior players to come out in support of the coach and the pair have seemingly had a strong relationship since Morgan rose to the captaincy.

The fact that they butted heads indicates how frustration is rising at the Cowboys as they come to the end of a season unlike any in the club’s recent history.

North Queensland went into last night’s game against Penrith in 15th place, having been challenged by a remarkable injury toll that has stripped the club of some of their biggest names and most important players.

Green is under pressure after another tough year. Picture: Ian Hitchcock

At one point this season they had nearly half their salary cap on the sidelines. Jason Taumalolo, the club’s best and most expensive player, has missed a handful of games when his presence could have been the difference between finishing in or out of the top eight.

Others have been out for longer. Half Te Maire Martin hasn’t played for months after suffering bleeding on the brain, his return to rugby league yet to be confirmed.

It is understood Martin is edging towards a return to training but there has been no confirmation yet on when he will be cleared to return to the field.

The New Zealand youngster is off contract at the end of the season but the Cowboys are expected to keep him until they have a clearer diagnosis on his future, cognisant of the need to ensure his welfare in the current circumstances.

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Centre Justin O’Neill has also been sidelined since May after rupturing his spleen in the club’s win over Canberra in May. O’Neill, having scored eight tries in eight games to make him one of the form backs in the competition, was forced to spend time in a Canberra Hospital but is on track to return next season.

The club was then rocked this week by news that prop Matt Scott had suffered a stroke following the loss in Newcastle. Scott, who will retire at the end of the season, is still recovering in hospital and yet to return to Townsville.

Green has been largely responsible for keeping the club together but things have begun to fray in recent weeks with the finish line in sight, the tumult of the past six months finally catching up with everyone.