He might be sweating on Michael Morgan's return but North Queensland NRL coach Paul Green has dismissed talk the Cowboys are a one-man band without their playmaker.
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Morgan was named at five-eighth for Thursday night's NRL grand-final re-match in Melbourne after missing the first two rounds due to an abdominal strain.
Green said there'd be no final verdict until they saw how Morgan pulled up from Wednesday's captain's run.
"We've still got a session to get through yet but he pulled up well after training yesterday so we are hopeful - more hopeful than last week," he said.
"But it's how he pulls up from training. It has been good so far this week so, fingers crossed, we are heading in the right direction."
It seems Morgan's return could not come soon enough, with co-captain Johnathan Thurston carrying the Cowboys in attack in last week's round-two loss to Brisbane.
Stand-in pivot Te Maire Martin failed to back up from his impressive season-opening display in a quiet night against the Broncos, leaving all the pressure on Thurston to inspire the Cowboys.
And Thurston almost pulled it off.
He set up all three North Queensland tries before sending Scott Bolton away for what appeared to be the match-winning four-pointer in the final 90 seconds. However, the Cowboys' prop, with defenders all over him, ran into the goal post and lost the ball.
Thurston said after the match he needed more help from Martin and fill-in fullback Ben Hampton, who would again replace Lachlan Coote (hamstring) against Melbourne.
But Green did not agree that the pressure would again be on Thurston to spark the Cowboys against the defending premiers at AAMI Park if Morgan was sidelined.
"There has been a bit said this week about guys letting JT do it - I don't think that is the case," he said.
"It's about everyone doing their role.
"In a few areas last week, we were probably a bit off and it was just enough to get beaten.
"We are looking for an improved performance this week."
Martin has been named on the bench for the Melbourne clash but will slot into the halves if Morgan is still sidelined.
Back-rower Coen Hess has been moved into the starting side, replacing the benched Ethan Lowe.
It will make the second time in a month the 2017 grand finalists have met.
North Queensland downed the Storm with a last-gasp Thurston-inspired try in their February 23 Suncorp Stadium pre-season clash that doubled as a testimonial for the Cowboys' co-captain and Melbourne's Cameron Smith.
Australian Associated Press
