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Morgan's wonder pass shades of 2015 GF

For the second time in his career, Michael Morgan has produced a miracle flick pass at ANZ Stadium to seal one of the biggest games of the year.

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Source: AAP


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It was all too familiar for Michael Morgan - ANZ Stadium, big game, clutch flick pass for the winning try.

In a play that was an almost mirror image of his 2015 NRL grand final heroics, the Queensland utility produced a magical offload to send Dane Gagai in to score and seal the Maroons' 18-16 victory in Origin II on Wednesday night.

After Billy Slater floated across field, Morgan went looking for space before popping one of the balls of the season for his winger, who had cut infield.

The try was scored up the other end and on the opposite side of the field at which he broke Brisbane's hearts in North Queensland's 2015 grand final victory.

On that occasion he sent Kyle Feldt sailing over and there was a sense of deja vu as he once again produced a magical pass to decide what was one of the biggest games of the year.

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"First thing I think is to run and see if there's any opportunity then Dane dropped underneath me," Morgan said.

"You see those tries quite often, when teams will chase after the sideline and someone will drop back in and space will open up. (Gagai) saw the space and I was lucky enough to get the ball away."

What made Morgan's efforts all the more remarkable was he was playing at centre, a position which he's never played in his first grade career.

He played a few games there in Queensland Cup back in 2013 but it is otherwise a position with which he is entirely unfamiliar.

He was moved there after Will Chambers left the field for a concussion test in the 70th minute and had to quickly get his head around the job in front of him; marking Jarryd Hayne.

"I do a bit through the week in different positions if guys need a break, I fill in a little," Morgan said.

"I am prepared mentally that if someone goes down somewhere like (centre) then it will probably be me going in there.

"When Will went down tonight I thought straight away that I'd get back on there."


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