Cowboys halves a work in progress: Morgan

Michael Morgan will step up his game to help new North Queensland halves partner John Asiata but won't attempt another banana kick any time soon.

NRL

Michael Morgan wants to help new Cowboys halves partner John Asiata as much as he can. (AAP)

Michael Morgan has promised to step up his kicking game to ease pressure on budding North Queensland halves partner John Asiata ahead of Saturday's NRL clash with Parramatta.

But don't expect a repeat of his outrageous banana kick that stunned onlookers - and South Sydney - in last week's Magic Round.

Cowboys skipper Morgan's remarkable cross field kick that led to a Justin O'Neill try in their 32-16 loss to the Rabbitohs sparked debate over whether it was pure genius or he simply got lucky after it came off the side of the boot.

Morgan put his hand up on Wednesday, saying he wouldn't be attempting it again any time soon after admitting it didn't quite go to plan.

"It was meant to be that type of (banana) kick but it was supposed to go further to (winger Kyle) Feldt but I will take it," Morgan said.

"I have done a few at training now and then. I just thought I would have a go at it and luckily it came off."

But asked if he would try it again in a match, Morgan said: "Probably not."

Ahead of his 150th NRL game, Morgan did commit to upping his kicking game in a bid to help forward-turned-five-eighth Asiata find his feet in the No.6 jersey.

Morgan admitted their halves partnership was still a "work in progress" ahead of Asiata's third game at pivot since replacing dumped young gun Jake Clifford.

"John hasn't played there a lot before. I know he enjoys the position but when you do it week to week there is a bit more that comes to it and it's a hard position to get consistent with," he said.

"But I will try to take a bit of responsibility off John, lead us around well and do the majority of the kicking - hopefully that will help him take his opportunities."

Morgan will become the 15th Cowboys player to reach 150 games.

"I only found out yesterday (about milestone). It's pretty special. Hopefully we can top it off with a win," he said.

"For our season and where we are at the moment the win is the most important thing."

The 13th-placed North Queensland slumped to a 3-6 record after the Magic Round loss.

They have made the finals once in 11 seasons when starting 3-6, finishing seventh in 2004.


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Source: AAP


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