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Morgan can't explain trademark pass

Queensland's Michael Morgan admits he doesn't rehearse his trademark, match-turning flick pass and can't pinpoint its origins.

Michael Morgan.
It has become his trademark but Michael Morgan doesn't know where his flick pass comes from. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Just like NSW, Michael Morgan has no idea where the match-turning flick pass that has now become his trademark comes from.

The Blues are on high alert ahead of Wednesday night's State of Origin decider after another piece of Morgan magic helped Queensland seal a come-from-behind 18-16 game two win in Sydney.

In scenes reminiscent of his 2015 grand final heroics, Morgan delivered a sublime inside flick pass to send winger Dane Gagai try-bound in the dying moments and spark the dramatic Origin II victory.

But Morgan said ahead of game three he had never rehearsed the move and found it hard to pinpoint its origins.

"It's not something I sort of plan on doing ever," Morgan said.

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"But I played a lot of touch footy growing up - I played that all through my juniors and actually enjoyed it more than rugby league - so it's just reaction really and playing a lot of footy over the years."

Morgan's sleight of hand was first sighted when he set up North Queensland winger Kyle Feldt's last-gasp try to help the Cowboys snatch the 2015 NRL premiership from Brisbane.

"It's just that opportunities present themselves and I've been lucky that those two (passes) have come off," Morgan said.

"There's probably other games where I've tried something and it hasn't come off.

"I'm lucky those two get remembered a bit more than other things."

Morgan had hoped to replace five-eighth Johnathan Thurston (shoulder) for game three after playing his first seven Origins off the bench.

However, Queensland coach Kevin Walters opted for debutant Cameron Munster at No.6, relegating Morgan to left centre for Darius Boyd (thumb).

Morgan has backed himself to line up against NSW's Josh Dugan despite never playing in the centres in his 116-game NRL career.

He said the Queensland team were desperate to provide a fitting send-off for retiring playmaker Thurston.

Thurston's Origin days are over after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in game two.

He will receive a pre-match tribute at Suncorp Stadium.

"You still want to make it a good series, so that you can say he won his last series as an Origin player," Morgan said of his club teammate.

"So there's a bit of motivation there still."


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