https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/local-sport/morgans-back-and-ready-for-unreal-suncorp-experience/news-story/f56633d0b4714971fb8426637d82e010 FORCED to sit out the entirety of 2019, Blair Morgan is determined to make up for lost time. Multiple injury setbacks have done little to deter his drive to succeed, rather it has fuelled a massive pre-season to do his best by his beloved Brothers and Brolgas. Three successive broken arms wiped Morgan from the field last season in the Townsville and District Rugby Union. Despite his absence, the forward’s standing in the game brought him straight into the Brolgas line up to take on the Sunshine Coast at Suncorp Stadium. Morgan has played plenty of big contests — from grand finals and ANZAC Day clashes to representative Queensland Country honours.
But for him, the chance to run onto Suncorp Stadium was on “another level” and spectators would be treated to a contest of equal magnitude. “They’ll see two big country regions battling it out, so I think the whole aspect of running onto Suncorp will be unreal,” Morgan said. “We played them last year in Brisbane at Ballymore and went down 14-12 in a really close match. “Talking to some of the fellas now they’re keen to get some revenge and get Townsville rugby back on top as the strongest country region in Queensland.” Previous arm breaks playing in England and for the Queensland Country Healers in Goondiwindi led to Morgan having surgeries to put plates into his bones prior to round one last year. The injury’s third coming in the 2018 semi-final against Teachers West had him watch a difficult Brothers campaign. His club fielded a young group, devoid of the leadership he and several other players they lost brought to the team. Suffering yet another injury setback was disappointing, but the way in which Morgan’s absence turned the tables was equally gut wrenching. He did what he could from the sidelines to help, but all the while was itching to get the Gilbert in his hands. “We were up when I was on the field and in the last ten minutes they scored two tries to make it through to the grand final,” Morgan said. “It completely snapped on the plate, I just hit on the wrong part of the (other player’s) body and came off second best. “Since I had my surgery and the doctor gave me the all clear I haven’t stopped training because I’ve felt the need to catch up.” The Brolgas began training on Sunday and will take on the Sunshine Coast prior to the Queensland Reds match against the ACT Brumbies on March 27.
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AuthorI covered a vast range of sports and issues in my time with the Bulletin. Archives
June 2020
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