State of Origin duty has primed Michael Morgan to step up in Johnathan Thurston’s absence, North Queensland back-rower Gavin Cooper says.
But Cooper would not be surprised if playmaker Thurston ran out for the Cowboys in Saturday night’s NRL top-three clash with Melbourne in Townsville.
North Queensland coach Paul Green has not ruled out the possibility of Thurston playing despite reports the co-captain will be sidelined for two weeks with a hamstring complaint.