Walters backs Morgan for NQ No.7 jersey

Kevin Walters has backed Mal Meninga's call that Michael Morgan should be given North Queensland's No.7 jersey after coach Paul Green resisted the temptation.

Michael Morgan

Queensland coach Kevin Walters wants Michael Morgan as Cowboys halfback. (AAP)

Sweeping changes may have been made by North Queensland coach Paul Green but Kevin Walters believes the Cowboys mentor should have made one more call - switch Michael Morgan to halfback.

Queensland coach Walters has backed Mal Meninga's suggestion that Johnathan Thurston take a back seat for the rest of the year and hand Morgan the Cowboys' No.7 jersey as they plan for life after the retiring great.

Green ran out of patience with his misfiring backline after the Cowboys slumped to a woeful 4-10 record following their error-riddled last round NRL loss to 16th placed Parramatta.

He dumped former Test centre Justin O'Neill and regular fullback Lachlan Coote while resting winger Antonio Winterstein (knee) for Friday night's NRL home clash with the Warriors.

But Walters hinted that Green did not do enough to the backline after the Cowboys mentor ignored Meninga's call to move Morgan to halfback.

Queensland star Morgan was named at fullback for the Warriors clash after returning from a groin injury.

"I think it is a great initiative from Mal who threw the idea up," Walters told Fox Sports' Queenslanders Only.

"I know the Cowboys have struggled a bit this year and for whatever reason those two (Thurston, Morgan) haven't gelled.

"They need to get their season going somehow. I think it (Morgan at No.7) would be a good response."

Walters said switching Morgan to No.7 may let the out of sorts playmaker reclaim his mojo.

Morgan is yet to recapture last year's spark that helped inspire North Queensland's unlikely NRL grand final appearance and the Kangaroos' Rugby League World Cup success.

"A re-jigging of the jersey number can have a different influence over a player's mindset so I think it's a good move," Walters said.

"It will be interesting to see where the Cowboys end up with it."

North Queensland need to win at least nine of their final 10 games to keep their finals hopes alive and provide a fitting farewell for Thurston.

After ignoring calls for Morgan at No.7, Green said it would take more than one person to get the Cowboys out of their rut.

"You need to build some confidence. At the moment we probably have too many losing habits," he said.

"We need to get some confidence, bank some wins and change those habits.

"But we need everyone contributing. We are trying to find some consistency with how we play, when that comes I am not sure."


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Source: AAP



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