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Morgan must replace Thurston now: Meninga

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga believes North Queensland needs to bite the bullet and make Michael Morgan their new starting halfback.

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Source: AAP


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Change is on the way at North Queensland but coach Paul Green won't say if it'll include heeding Mal Meninga's calls to move Johnathan Thurston out of the No.7 jumper.

The Cowboys slumped to their 10th loss in 14 games against Parramatta on Saturday night - the worst start to a year by the previous season's grand finalist since the Sydney Roosters in 2011.

It prompted Kangaroos coach Meninga to say Michael Morgan should be the team's new halfback.

And when quizzed on Meninga's comments by reporters at Townsville Airport on Sunday, a frustrated Green admitted it was time for change somewhere in the side.

"I don't tend to comment too much about team selections the day after we play," Green said.

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"But I've stuck solid to some of the players for quite a while now and we haven't been getting it done.

"We definitely need to look at changing up some combinations to get things happening."

Morgan is already pencilled in to become the Cowboys' new No.7 when Thurston retires at the end of the year, however Meninga believes the time is right for him to take the reins now after moving to fullback last month.

North Queensland are currently in 14th spot on eight points, and will need to win all ten of their remaining matches just to reach the traditional 28-point cutoff to make the finals.

If they don't, Thurston's career is likely to end with a whimper.

"Morgs should play seven, he needs to be on the football," Meninga, who has coached both players, said on Fox Sports.

"He thinks less (at halfback). When he is thinking less he plays his best footy. (Johnathan) can sit back and play six. He needs to take the back seat.

"(Morgan) played seven basically all last year and was the competition's best player."

Morgan pulled up sore with a groin issue out of Queensland's Origin loss, which is expected to be operated on at the end of the season.

His replacement at fullback, Lachlan Coote, made three errors on Saturday night, as did five-eighth Te Maire Martin. Thurston himself also made four.


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