Darius Boyd hails Michael Morgan ‘coming of age’ for Cowboys in Johnathan Thurston’s absence

LOSING Johnathan Thurston could have killed North Queensland’s season — but Darius Boyd believes Michael Morgan’s emergence has dragged the Cowboys into the finals equation.

Morgan has stepped into some very big shoes. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

DARIUS Boyd says the unavailability of Johnathan Thurston was the setback upon which his Queensland Origin teammate Michael Morgan has seized to “take his career forward’’.

While the Cowboys’ injury losses run deeper than Thurston’s availability for just seven NRL matches this year, Morgan had to take on the responsibility for much of the playmaking for North Queensland when Thurston was ruled out for the season after round 15.

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Morgan has stepped into some very big shoes. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“From the outside, it looks like he’s done a great job — I know from previous years when JT has been out the Cowboys have really struggled,’’ Boyd said ahead of tonight’s Queensland derby clash at 1300Smiles Stadium.

“He had a few chances (at halftime) earlier in the year — you can’t just expect to come in and be JT. They’ve had a number of players out for a long time and he’s been able to lead the team well, as among others in the group.

“He’s come of age as a ballplayer and he’s only going to get better with experience at it. Playing without JT will only move his career forward.’’

A Fox Sports Stats study shows that Morgan has touched the ball more often, predictably, from round 16 onwards and run less frequently.

Morgan’s season totals are that he has had possession 49.4 times in all games he’s played and run 6.7 times per game for an average of 60 run metres. He’s produced a total of 16 try assists and 10 line break assists, while making 74 tackle busts.

After round 15, Morgan had 45.9 touches per game, run 7.6 times and averaged 64 run metres. Morgan had played in all seven matches Thurston missed prior to round 15, being handed the No. 7 jersey for three games.

Morgan stats back up his rise for the Cowboys. Picture: Brett Costello

Boyd said North Queensland’s five-game winning streak at home against the Broncos serves to underline how hard this game will be. The Broncos last won in Townsville in 2013.

“That stat doesn’t surprise me. It’s long been a tough place to play, whether you’re with the Broncos or any other team,’’ Boyd said.

“I haven’t had a lot of joy up there personally. They play well up there.

“This is a big game for both teams. We want to be in good form going into the finals.

“I think there is a lot of mutual respect between both clubs and how we play our football is fairly similar. People seem to enjoy our games.”

Originally published as Darius Boyd hails Michael Morgan ‘coming of age’ for Cowboys in Johnathan Thurston’s absence