Johnathan Thurston expects to hand over more of North Queensland's playmaking duties to Michael Morgan next year as the Cowboys prepare for life after their greatest servant.
The Cowboys will on Saturday night take on Parramatta for a place in a grand final qualifier - a position they were never expected to be in after Thurston went down with a season-ending shoulder injury following State of Origin II.
Without the 299-gamer, who will in 2018 hang up his boots, the Cowboys have won six of 12, including last weekend's rousing elimination final win over Cronulla.
In Thurston's absence, Morgan has stepped into the No.7 jumper, made his mark on the team and has them daring to dream.
"We've really seen his game evolve this year," Thurston told AAP.
"He's had to step into a role that he was uncomfortable doing. But he's become comfortable at it now.
"It's an exciting time for him."
It was questioned whether Morgan had what it took to control a side until he had no other option than to do just that.
Since moving to five-eighth in 2015, he was seen as a running half and a foil for Thurston however has had to evolve yet again in the back half of 2017.
He has proven his ability to steer his team, call the shots and play both sides of the field.
And when Thurston returns next year, he says he won't be snatching back the reins.
"I hope this just gives him the confidence to take his game to another level," Thurston said.
"He'll play both sides of the field, pop up, take a bit of ownership of the team.
"It'll be nice to see him start calling the shots when we're both out there."
Thurston said he wanted Morgan's game to continue evolving so he's ready to make the team his own once he walks off into the sunset at the end of next season.
"That's what we've seen this year with myself being out, he's had to stand up and take that roll on," Thurston said.
"He's starting to understand how to control a game and what the team needs at certain times in the game. That's that game management that you need in the halves."
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