Michael Morgan’s inspirational late season-surge towards the grand final has people comparing his incredible run of form to that of Jarryd Hayne in 2009.
Morgan has had such a good run of form, that there are calls to introduce a ‘Player of the NRL Finals’ Award, so players like him get the credit they truly deserve.
Hayne recorded six man of the match performances at the back-end of 2009 that saw him win the coveted Dally M Medal and lead the Eels to their first grand final in eight years.
While Morgan’s purple patch of form may not be at the equivalent level to Hayne, it certainly holds similar regard considering the context of the Cowboys last few games.
With co-captain Johnathan Thurston ruled out for the season with a shoulder injury following Origin II this year, Morgan took his time in adapting to his new role as the premier playmaker for the Cowboys.
Their attacking structures were heavily built around Thurston but that has significantly changed as the season progressed. He has well and truly evolved as the heir to Thurston, once the future immortal retires from rugby league.
Now despite losing five of their last six games of the regular season and their finals qualification relying on a Bulldogs victory against the Dragons, the Cowboys sit just one win away from Premiership glory.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
It’s been a monumental team performance with their courageous defensive efforts the cornerstone of their magical finals run, but Morgan has been more than instrumental in their charge towards the 2017 grand final.
Unfortunately for Morgan, he will not receive any official recognition unless he is able to win the Clive Churchill Medal come full-time on Sunday.
While Morgan has been touted as the game’s number one player throughout his stellar second-half of the season, he is unlikely to be in serious contention at the Dally M Awards.
That’s why the NRL should introduce a ‘Player of the NRL Finals’ award for the best player of the finals campaign. It’s only fair that players are acknowledged for going to that extra level when it matters most.
Morgan has recorded three try assists, three line break assists, seven offloads, one 40/20, and two crucial field goals throughout the 2017 Finals campaign.
His potent kicking game on Saturday night against the Roosters constantly got his side out of trouble – earning the Cowboys valuable field position against the attacking prowess of the Roosters.
If there is one player who deserves to be crowned the NRL Finals MVP, it’s certainly the Cowboys new number seven.
republican
Guest
............I dont follow League except when I visit in laws in FNQ. I have witnessed the CB's never say die efforts this year and been extremely impressed while I have always considered Thurston one of the best athletes I have seen in respect of any footy code. Morgan has stepped up it seems, since JT retired prematurely while he epitomises this clubs admirable spirit. I now in a token way, support a League entity & its the mighty CB's. While they are a relatively new member of the NRL they are the antithesis of the plastic Melbourne Storm. I expect the CB's bubble to be burst this Sunday, however they will have already triumphed in many other ways that the very commercially polished Storm, are unlikely to ever replicate..........
Andre Cupido
Roar Rookie
Without a doubt, but still would like to see an award!
Andre Cupido
Roar Rookie
Slater or Smith would be worth recipients if they win this year if there was one!
Andre Cupido
Roar Rookie
Fair point, but one game different won't have a significant impact on the player whose form warrants the award and shouldn't be the underlying factor as to why there shouldn't be one. In saying that, not always the case with teams playing a different amount of games, sometimes it's equal!
Adsa
Guest
I think Morgan will get recognition for his stand out finals performance when they pick the Kangaroos and he partners Cronk in the halves for the World Cup.
John
Guest
The point being the players from one team has 4 games to put forth their case whilst the other has 3 games.
Andre Cupido
Roar Rookie
Well the award would be given after the Grand Final, so you would like to think a player is in one of those two teams in the GF - both of which would play at least three games throughout the Finals.
Andre Cupido
Roar Rookie
Those statistics rank first in a majority of those categories respectively - not to mention the difficulty in delivering performances like he has throughout the Finals, so I would consider those stand-outs. The point of the article was to highlight the need for a Player of the Finals Award to allow for players like Morgan to be officially acknowledged for his form. He has been a standout along with Taumalolo and is in career-best form at a time of the year where the pressure is mounted on the best to stand and deliver - just like Morgan has. Latrell's appraisal was warranted following his performance vs Broncos and form at the back-end of the season, while Morgan deserves all recognition that comes his way - his performances are that of a top-end halfback (Not to mention he has been tagged the best player in the game recently.) There's no desperation here..this article and appraisal are warranted by Morgan's form.
John
Guest
The only thing about this award though, is that it almost rules out players in teams that gets the second week off. It wouldn't be hard to imagine a number of storm players being eligible for the recognition if they had the same number of games in the finals.
BleakCity
Roar Rookie
"Morgan has recorded three try assists, three line break assists" - over 3 games? That's not exactly stand out stuff. To be honest the cowboys have "finished stronger" in all 3 finals but haven't been outstanding and Morgan has mirrored that effort being clinical & mistake free which his opponents haven't but it hasn't been exceptional by any stretch of the imagination. Don't get me wrong he's been great & key for the cows along with their other origin/test players, particularly JT. You could certainly raise an arguement his runs have kept the cowboys competitive on his own. People are desperate for stories and it seems everyone who is still standing becomes a legend. Poor old Latrell was being given the full on Andrew Johns treatment until he let in a try & put 2 kickoffs dead...
Andre Cupido
Roar Rookie
Fair point - as I said it's not on the same level but its comparable. You are right though, much more of a collective team performance than the Eels in 2009.
Nat
Roar Guru
Not a bad idea but this isn't Hayne-like. Morgan has lifted and the Cowboys have lifted around him. A 40/20 is brilliant but what about the bloke who runs 250m straight up the middle. Feldt scores 2 tries he really had no right too and Lowe drains the goal/s from the sideline. Martin scores an individual effort last week and throws the inside ball to Hess the week previous for the go-ahead try. Their 3 bench forwards making more meters than the oppositions starting props in the last 2 games. Hayne was phenomenal but it was a one-man show. Morgan, IMO, is more like Thurston insofar as he makes better players of those around him.
The Barry
Roar Guru
First of all I think Morgan is getting plenty of recognition for his performances, just not an award. Having said that I think this idea is worth exploring. It would be good to see players that go on a jag of form in the semis get recognised and I think in time it could become a prestigious award. Might be cold consolation on grand final day if say the Cowboys lose and Morgan gets awarded player of the semis. It's also 'easy' to pick when you have a standout like Morgan but could cause controversy in a more standard season.