Cowboys star Michael Morgan open to joining a Sydney club — but would rather stay in Townsville
COWBOYS star Michael Morgan says he will not rule out a permanent move to Sydney as his contract talks ramp up immediately following the World Cup.
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HE spent the weekend in Cronulla with good mate Valentine Holmes and liked the view of Manly as the Kangaroos set up camp on Monday.
Now Michael Morgan says he will not rule out a permanent move to Sydney as his contract talks ramp up immediately following the World Cup.
With James Maloney, Matt Moylan and Mitchell Pearce all part of the current playmaker merry-go-round, Morgan will push close to $1 million-a-season once his own deal expires at the end of next season.
Free to negotiate with rival clubs, Morgan, 25, is keen to remain with North Queensland who have already tabled a deal understood to be worth around $3.2 million over four years to become Johnathan Thurston’s halfback successor.
But Morgan, the hottest property to come on to the open market — along with Roosters skipper Boyd Cordner — is happy to test his market value, including Sydney where no shortage of clubs will clear the decks for the Queensland and Kangaroos star.
“You don’t want to rule out (Sydney) because the way the game is these days, anything can happen,’’ Morgan said.
“If I was to say I will never play for another club and then a couple of years later I am at another club, it makes me look silly.
“My preference would be up there in Townsville because I am up there, my family is from up there, my partner and her family are from there.
“You see guys who have been at one club for a long time have to change. At the moment I am confident I will be able to stay there.
“I remember one of the big reasons I re-signed last time was I wanted to win a comp. I re-signed at the start of 2015. It so happened to be that we did it that year.
“The lifestyle in Townsville is a lot cheaper than down here. I like Townsville and I like the club, so it’s not like I am looking to leave.
“But you always want to ... see what is out there and what could be an opportunity. I haven’t done that before.
“It wouldn’t hurt to see. Not looking at it I guess would be more of a problem than not having a look.’’
Morgan helped guide the Cowboys to an unlikely grand final this year, especially once Thurston went down and the Cowboys needed to rely on St George Illawarra losing in the final round.
It proved Morgan was capable of controlling a team without Thurston, something he said he was not entirely sure he could do before the season-ending shoulder injury to his future Immortal teammate.
Cowboys general manager of football Peter Parr said now the collective bargaining agreement had been thrashed out, they were keen to move on Morgan once his World Cup commitments were finished.
“Our desire is to keep him at the club, and I’m confident that will happen,’’ Parr said.
Morgan has played in the Kangaroos’ opening two Cup wins but could be rested for Saturday’s clash against Lebanon at Allianz Stadium.
James Maloney was spotted back around the camp on Monday where he went for a quick walk with new Panthers teammate Josh Mansour, while Cooper Cronk — who will call Allianz Stadium home for the next two years — was spotted being dropped off by partner Tara Rushton.