Roosters coach Trent Robinson wary of Michael Morgan — the best player in the NRL

MICHAEL Morgan is the NRL’s reluctant hero who Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson now rates “the best player in the comp”.

Michael Morgan holds six-week-old Kyriarna Oxlee at Townsville Airport on Sunday. Picture: Zak Simmonds

HE is the NRL’s reluctant hero who Trent Robinson now rates as the “best player in the comp”.

But while North Queensland playmaker Michael Morgan has well and truly stepped out of Johnathan Thurston’s giant shadow this season, Paul Green said the 25-year-old still “hates” being the centre of attention.

Ahead of the Cowboys’ grand final qualifier against the Sydney Roosters on Saturday, Brad Fittler has lifted the lid on a conversation he had with the Roosters coach on the weekend.

And it was before Morgan’s man-of-the-match performance in the Cowboys’ shock win over Parramatta.

“Michael Morgan has changed,” Fittler said on Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Show. “He was a quiet, shy, humble bloke, and he has just turned into an absolute leader.

“He is just nailing the moments. He is not missing at all.

“I was talking to Trent Robinson and he said Michael Morgan is the best player in the comp.

“That was before the game. That is a fair rap. He is a fair judge.”

Michael Morgan has been in superb form for the Cowboys.

Told of Robinson’s comments after returning home to a hero’s welcome in Townsville, Green said: “That is a big rap. He always had the talent, so there is nothing new there.”

What is new is how Morgan has learned to accept his different role in Thurston’s absence, albeit reluctantly.

“The biggest thing is him believing in himself and seeing himself how everyone else sees him,” Green said.

“He is pretty humble. I keep calling him a kid but he is not a kid.

“But he is a really nice guy. And I think that is part of that. He would die if anyone thought he was a bighead.

“He would hate if anyone thought he was up himself. He is just not that sort of guy.

“That is probably why it has taken a while for him to see himself the way everyone else sees him.”

Michael Morgan holds six-week-old Kyriarna Oxlee at Townsville Airport on Sunday. Picture: Zak Simmonds

But there is no disguising Morgan’s talent anymore.

He came up with the clutch play against Cronulla in week one of the finals when he calmly slotted the winning field goal in extra time, and backed that up with his best-on-ground effort against the Eels.

This week the challenge will go to another level when Morgan goes head-to-head with Mitchell Pearce.

While everyone has the Roosters as short-priced ­favourites, Green said “I don’t really care” if no one gives the Cowboys a chance.

“What matters most is what we believe,” Green said.

Michael Morgan, Coen Hess and the Cowboys celebrate victory over the Eels. Picture: Brett Costello

“I always had faith that we still had enough talent in our team to be a good team.

“The whole winning without Johnathan thing, I reckon we have got well past that.

“In 2015, we won both our games without our Origin players, not only Johnathan but Jimmy (Tamou), Matt Scott and Morgo.

“So that learning to win without those guys, I don’t see that as being an issue.

“When you lose a key player, it takes time for your team to adjust.

“Given we have had most of the season without (Thurston), we have had time as a team to work out our game.

“But we are not done yet.

“We still have some things we want to achieve yet.”