The term `friendly rivalry’ is about to get a new meaning at the North Queensland Cowboys after Michael Morgan made it clear he has no intention of relinquishing the No.1 jersey to good mate Lachlan Coote.
Ex-Penrith fullback Coote arrived at the NRL club amid much fanfare as the man to replace club favourite Matt Bowen in 2014.
However, his year lasted just seven minutes after he suffered a serious knee injury at the pre-season Auckland Nines.
Now a fighting fit Coote again has big boots to fill if he dons the No.1 jersey in 2015 – those of incumbent Morgan.
Morgan was a revelation at fullback for the Cowboys this season, earning Queensland squad selection by Origin III in July.
Morgan has become good mates with Coote at the club – but it seems their friendship will only stretch so far.
“At the moment I want to be playing fullback,” he told reporters.
“I had a go at the halves for a few years and never really took off.
“I was lucky enough to have a good year this year.
“It’s where I have played my best footy as first grade. I would be more happy there.
“Going back there (fullback) opened the game up more for me, gave me more of an opportunity to run the ball.”
It is already competitive at pre-season training with Coote clearly keen to make up for lost time, exceeding Morgan at a recent club running test.
But Morgan said the pre-season race to nab the No.1 jersey would not be personal.
“We are good mates. It’s not going to come between us or anything like that but whatever happens, happens,” he smiled.
“If Greeny (coach Paul Green) was more happy (for Morgan) to go to the halves I would go there.
“But there’s still competition (for spots) there, but that’s good for the club.”
Morgan said the elephant in the room had not been addressed by Green.
“We haven’t discussed positions yet,” he said.
“The meeting I had with Greeny was just after the season so nothing has been said since then.
“I will go to Christmas and see what happens from there.”
Trenno
Guest
That is pretty much he way I think it will pan out, especially if Coote has a Kicking game. so long since I've seen him play I can't remember. Lui could still get a run though, he did play some good football towards the end on last season. With Tamou having neck surgery I think we will see Hannant start and Hoare off the bench with Bolton. King is he pick of the Hookers with Granville off the bench to lift the pace. Lowe will probably start the season in the Backrow with Cooper and Taumalolo but I can't wait to see Tanginoa in action, especially in tandem with Taumalolo . Team to start the season:1.Morgan 2.Winterstein 3.Linnet 4.Moga 5.Wright 6.Coote/Lui 7.JT 8.Scott 9.King 10.Hannant 11.Cooper 12.Lowe 13.Taumalolo 14.Granville 15.Tanginoa 16.Bolton 17.Hoare
Jay C
Roar Guru
People forget pretty quickly. He was 'the next big thing' when he was playing regularly for Penrith. We haven't seen him get a solid run for a while now.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Lockyers Australian debut was one of the worst debuts by anyone anywhere. I remember feeling pretty sorry for him. But he more than made amends in the following 44 test matches. But yeah, I don't really see Locky in Morgan. I can see Locky in Moylan in terms of composure and attitude. I remember Locky was charged with kicking the goals for QLD in his debut, and there was the chance to win the game after the siren, from a fair way out. He kicked it and then just raises his hand, very casually to the crowd. Not jumping up and down. Man he and Thurston were just so perfect. That is the best 6 and 7 combination I have ever seen.
dallas
Guest
Yea your right muzz, there are alot of sides short of a quality fullback. He may end up seeking a release if he cannot get a spot in the starting 13. 1 or 6 are really his only positions and the cowboys persisted with lui last season so it makes me think he is the favourite for the 6, but who knows?? When bennett was interviewed about releasing ben barba he spoke about how quickly a players value can drop if he is not getting a run in first grade each week or not playing his preferred position. This could be the case for coote.
Muzz
Guest
There would be half a dozen clubs that would take Coote in a heart beat.
Dallas
Guest
I don't remember lockyer ever having a brain snap, he was the most composed player I've ever seen. It is hard to compare Morgan to lockyer when lockyer had already beat the world at the age Morgan is now.
Dallas
Guest
Yes but I'm thinking they will try and fit coote and Morgan in the starting side somewhere. coote is on decent money and they need to justify that, otherwise i would think if he wasn't in greens plans they would have tried to shop him around by now. Coote is getting a pretty bad wrap in this thread, he is a good player he has just had a bad run with injuries, he is tough as nails and that is the best quality a football player can have, especially a fullback. ,
Pikelet
Guest
Anyone who thinks Morgan should go back to the halves hasn't watched a lot of Cowboys games. The kid is a running player first and a ballplayer second. IMO, fullback is without doubt the best position for this kid to play at. Maybe down the track I could entertain Morgan going back to the halves (maybe after Thurston retires). But right now, he is a running player first and foremost as evidenced by a great season this year which saw him being recognised as a future rep player. He got none of those plaudits in the halves.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Bilbo What about Henry playing Taumalolo in the InTrust Cup and for 10 mins off the bench? And the dumb Board actually gave him an extension. There are not many 6s that do tackle well. JT is terrible and so was Lockyer. I concede defence is a concern but he will not be any worse than Lui who apart from having a poor technique, is lazy. Coote has class and that takes you a long way.
Billbo
Guest
First year at Fullback compared to guys career positions. Remember Lockyer could do some real brain snaps at FB, comes with the territory of players who run the high risk plays. He is still going through his inventive stage, learning what he can get away with and what he can't. Gettting it out of his system.
Billbo
Guest
That is not easy said though, a lot of respect for Bolton, he comes on and does the hard yards when the Cows need him, and has been doing the work well for years now. Hannat needs to prove for that position. Actually, maybe better Bolton to be the start and Hoare and Hannant to battle it out for the bench spot.
The eye
Guest
When Morgan is good hes very very good but when hes bad hes horrid..doubt him as potentially an equal of other young fullback guns Moylan or Tedesco,too much heart in mouth stuff..still,can only get better..
Billbo
Guest
Scott, for mine Coote is too small and it affects his defence, Granville is small, but is a capable defender. Coote is not worth the risk and his ball playing skills don't outweigh this. I will be very disappointed if Coote gets a run on the park bar injuries. We have seen from last year Morgan at fullback reads the game very well with shades of Lockyer. Does he need 1 more year there? It is inevitable, there is a force drawing him to 5/8 where he eventually belongs, the stars are aligning with Thurston's move back to HB. Henry playing Morgan at HB was a joke.
Billbo
Guest
Yep, oops left out Hannant on the bench for maybe Bolton
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Laine, Michael Morgan's stats at fullback are outstanding and up there with the great #1s. It is a tribute to coach Paul Green to come up with him when Coote was injured as I never considered him a fullback. He went that good that the position is his to lose. There is no way that he will not start the season at fullback and Coote will shoot it out for 6 with Lui. Coote reads the game well and has a beautiful pass and I have seen enough of him at 6 when at the Panthers to suggest he could own it, although like Lui, he has a long way to go in defence. This is a hot team: 1. Michael Morgan , Hezron Murgha, Zac Santo 2. Antonio Winterstein 3. Kane Linnett 4. Tautau Moga 5. Matthew Wright, Kyle Feldt 6. Lachlan Coote 7. Jonathan Thurston, Robert Lui 8. James Tamou 9. Cameron King, Jake Granville, Rory Kostjasyn , Ray Thompson 10. Matthew Scott 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Kelepi Tanginoa, Glenn Hall 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Ben Hannant 15. Ethan Lowe, Ben Spina 16. Patrick Kaufusi, Scott Bolton, Sam Hoare 17. John Asiata, Kyle McConnell
Jimmy
Guest
Hannant in my 22 but not Coote
Jay C
Roar Guru
Ben Hannant and Lachlan Coote doen't get a run in the top 22?
Billbo
Guest
1.Hezron Murgha 2.Kyle Feldt 3.Tautau Moga 4.Matthew Wright 5.Antonio Winterstein 6.Michael Morgan 7.Johnathan Thurston 8.James Tamou 9.Jake Granville 10.Matthew Scott 11.Ethan Lowe 12.Gavin Cooper 13.Jason Taumalolo 14.Scott Bolton 15.Rory Kostjasyn 16.Sam Hoare 17.Ben Spina Kane Linnett Javid Bowen Robert Lui Glenn Hall Ray Thompson
Billbo
Guest
Morgan at 5/8, Lui (not consistent enough through 2013) on standby and Origin fill in, Hezron or Javid Bowen at fullback, don't even rate Coote, there was a reason Panthers let him go & too small. The only talk up of Coote comes from NSW and they recently lost 8 SOO in a row, NRL.com write up, what a laugh ... if Morgan doesn't work out at 5/8 then shift him back to FB, don't think that will be the case though, his view from FB will help his 5/8 game, to maybe even get close to Lockyer would be awsome (though with his size would play more like the king), may have our future QLD pairing. Feel the force Morgan!
Jimmy
Guest
Coote was a bad buy , he is very very injury prone. I think Morgan will end up at fullback even if he starts the season in the half sort on the bench. I think this is our best chance of making a grand final since 2005 . We have the cattle , just need a little luck. Surely we are due for some.