Granty
23-05-2009, 07:05 AM
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/05/23/54951_sport.html
Cowboys' Captain Morgan leading the way
JOSH ALSTON
May 23rd, 2009
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2009/05/22/Michael-Morgan.jpg
PLAYMAKER ... Northern skipper Michael Morgan warming up
before yesterday's match at Jack Manski Oval
BRIGHT young talent Michael Morgan sacrificed a Cowboys under-20s jersey this week to lead the Northern side in the Queensland Secondary Schools Under-18 State Championships.
And the Ignatius Park student's ambitions to claim a maiden Queensland Schoolboys jersey could be realised after leading his side to two convincing wins in the opening two days of the carnival.
Just 16 at the time, Morgan was pitched into the Cowboys under-20s side earlier than expected this year following injuries at hooker and in the halves at the beginning of the season.
He has impressed coach Kristian Woolf, with Morgan now the first choice halfback at the club.
Woolf, a former school teacher, understood Morgan's desire to earn his first state jersey though and allowed him to stand down from Monday night's clash with Newcastle to compete at the carnival.
David Elliott is one of Woolf's assistants at the Cowboys and is coaching the Northern side where Morgan is skipper.
He said the half had a burning desire to lead the team to glory.
"He led the side well, he's captain of the side so I think he's really taken it on himself to perform well and lead the team well," Elliott said.
"Obviously he's playing with the 20s and the Cowboys but he definitely wanted to be part of the representative stuff and try and make this Queensland schoolboys side.
"He hasn't made one before so it's very important to him."
The remarkable rise of Morgan is staggering given his age.
He has been a valuable member of the under-20s, missing captain and regular halfback Ray Thompson, steering the team well and has scored five tries, the second best at the club.
He has bagged two already at the carnival and collected a man-of-the-match award on day one.
"People forget Michael just turned 17 in December and he hasn't played a lot of high rep footy," Elliot said.
"But he's certainly been one of our better ones the last couple of weeks, against the Warriors certainly. He's learning all the time and he'll continue to dominate here I think.
"The coaching staff over there have been quite patient and (are) putting a lot of time into him, I think he's starting to see the benefits."
Day two results:
Northern 48 (K Ritchie 2, J Taumalolo 2, A Elisala 2, M Morgan, K Feldt tries; J Lobwein 8 goals) d Sunshine Coast 4 (Z Friend try).
Presidents XIII 18 d Wide Bay 10
Peninsula 48 d South West 4
Capricornia 18 d Darling Downs 12
Met East 24 d Met West 12
South Coast 32 d Met North 18
Today's games:
Presidents XIII v South West 10am
Peninsula v Wide Bay 11.10am
Sunshine Coast v Darling Downs 12.20pm
Met West v Met North 1.30pm
Northern v Capricornia 2.40pm
Met East v South Coast 3.50pm
Cowboys' Captain Morgan leading the way
JOSH ALSTON
May 23rd, 2009
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2009/05/22/Michael-Morgan.jpg
PLAYMAKER ... Northern skipper Michael Morgan warming up
before yesterday's match at Jack Manski Oval
BRIGHT young talent Michael Morgan sacrificed a Cowboys under-20s jersey this week to lead the Northern side in the Queensland Secondary Schools Under-18 State Championships.
And the Ignatius Park student's ambitions to claim a maiden Queensland Schoolboys jersey could be realised after leading his side to two convincing wins in the opening two days of the carnival.
Just 16 at the time, Morgan was pitched into the Cowboys under-20s side earlier than expected this year following injuries at hooker and in the halves at the beginning of the season.
He has impressed coach Kristian Woolf, with Morgan now the first choice halfback at the club.
Woolf, a former school teacher, understood Morgan's desire to earn his first state jersey though and allowed him to stand down from Monday night's clash with Newcastle to compete at the carnival.
David Elliott is one of Woolf's assistants at the Cowboys and is coaching the Northern side where Morgan is skipper.
He said the half had a burning desire to lead the team to glory.
"He led the side well, he's captain of the side so I think he's really taken it on himself to perform well and lead the team well," Elliott said.
"Obviously he's playing with the 20s and the Cowboys but he definitely wanted to be part of the representative stuff and try and make this Queensland schoolboys side.
"He hasn't made one before so it's very important to him."
The remarkable rise of Morgan is staggering given his age.
He has been a valuable member of the under-20s, missing captain and regular halfback Ray Thompson, steering the team well and has scored five tries, the second best at the club.
He has bagged two already at the carnival and collected a man-of-the-match award on day one.
"People forget Michael just turned 17 in December and he hasn't played a lot of high rep footy," Elliot said.
"But he's certainly been one of our better ones the last couple of weeks, against the Warriors certainly. He's learning all the time and he'll continue to dominate here I think.
"The coaching staff over there have been quite patient and (are) putting a lot of time into him, I think he's starting to see the benefits."
Day two results:
Northern 48 (K Ritchie 2, J Taumalolo 2, A Elisala 2, M Morgan, K Feldt tries; J Lobwein 8 goals) d Sunshine Coast 4 (Z Friend try).
Presidents XIII 18 d Wide Bay 10
Peninsula 48 d South West 4
Capricornia 18 d Darling Downs 12
Met East 24 d Met West 12
South Coast 32 d Met North 18
Today's games:
Presidents XIII v South West 10am
Peninsula v Wide Bay 11.10am
Sunshine Coast v Darling Downs 12.20pm
Met West v Met North 1.30pm
Northern v Capricornia 2.40pm
Met East v South Coast 3.50pm