PNG gun Morea ends tough year with shot at the Cowboys

Kumuls fan favourite Morea Morea is hoping to cap off an eventful 2024 by making the most of his opportunity at the Cowboys during his training block to close out the year.

One of the train and replacement players aiming to secure a longer-term contract after joining the Cowboys squad in Townsville this week, Morea comes into the pre-season training block off the back of a dream Test debut, scoring a try as PNG secured the Pacific Bowl with a win against Cook Islands after coming onto the field nine minutes from full-time.

“It was unreal, to be honest. I felt emotional a bit, I didn't expect it during the week,” Morea told NRL.com.

“But all week the coach just told me to get prepared in case something happened, so I just got prepared to play and I was lucky enough to get a shot at playing.”

Morea’s debut came after he played in the PNG Prime Minister’s XIII team, then gained selection in coach Jason Demetriou’s Pacific Championships extended squad for the home game at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.

The crowd erupted when he went on the field to replace Koso Bandi who suffered a head knock from a high tackle, activating Morea, and the cheers resounded across the stadium when he broke free to score a flashy try in the final minute of the match.

That the fullback, who hails from Papa Village in Central Province, was in the squad at all was an achievement in itself after experiencing what he describes as one of his toughest years on record.

The 23-year-old had to fight his way back from a bad ankle injury that had him out of the game for months and in-and-out of the PNG Hunters team in the Hostplus Cup as he tried to regain the form that saw him claim the competition’s Rookie of the Year award ahead of the likes of Keano Kini in 2023.

However, the Cowboys had already seen enough in that 2023 season to offer him a chance to train and learn with their squad, with the support of Demetriou proving a big factor in Morea regaining his confidence.

“It’s for five weeks and then see what happens after that,” Morea said of his pre-season opportunity with the Cowboys.

“Things happen so fast and I can't believe it either.

“The whole year has been really tough for me, especially rehab and trying to get back to my form, I really worked hard, but it's been really hard to be honest.

“I wasn't expecting to be called up into the international stage. Coach JD, he just called me and he just wanted me to be part of the squad just to learn a lot from the boys, but I was lucky enough to get a shot.

“It's really amazing how it turned out, especially going through a tough year and then getting my debut at the end of the year, it's really great. It's really special.

“(To get an opportunity with the Cowboys) I think my foundation was formed last year when I got rookie of the year and had a good season in the Hostplus Cup and I guess when I was selected in an international representation for Prime Minister’s XIII.

“Coach JD was personally really helpful to me, he believed in me and got me into camp and he had one-on-one sessions with me. He's really good.”

Morea will be around some familiar faces while he settles in to his time in Townsville, with a number of fellow Kumuls players also calling North Queensland home.

“I get to hang out with Zac Laybutt, Rob Derby, Kyle (Laybutt, captain of the Townsville Blackhawks in the Hostplus Cup)," Morea said. 

“To be with them around a different environment, 100 percent those guys will be really valuable.”