NRL: Bennett takes aim at Cowboys

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has taken another shot at the Cowboys. Photo / Getty

In yet another dig at North Queensland, Wayne Bennett has questioned the wisdom of the Cowboys not playing Michael Morgan at fullback for Friday night's NRL derby.

Not content with claiming the Cowboys are among the "drama queens" complaining that Johnathan Thurston is being illegally targeted, Bennett also took aim at North Queensland's team list for the Suncorp Stadium clash.

The Broncos coach admitted Morgan "worried the hell out of him" at fullback - which made him query the Cowboys' decision to pick Lachlan Coote at No.1.

Coote's selection caps a 12-month knee injury recovery and ensures he will finally make his club debut. But it also pushed incumbent No.1 Morgan to five-eighth and relegated regular pivot Robert Lui to the second-tier Queensland Cup.

Cowboys coach Paul Green said he made the call in a bid to "get something going" after the team dropped their opening two games - both at home. But Bennett was not convinced Green had pulled the right rein.

"Morgan is very dangerous at fullback," he said. "He worries the hell out of me there when I have coached against him. And I have always had a rap on Robert Lui - he plays some fair footy. But that is their decision, we will wait and see."

Ex-Penrith No.1 Coote was initially recruited last year to fill the boots of outgoing Cowboys great Matt Bowen. Finally fit again, Coote will again feel the pressure upon his long awaited return when he slots in for Morgan at fullback.

Morgan was a revelation at fullback last year, earning 18th man Queensland selection and a Four Nations Kangaroos train-on squad nod. But Bennett said he had the utmost respect for Green who he helped groom when last at the Broncos.

"I could have made him (Broncos) under 20s coach instead of (future Brisbane coach Anthony) Griffin," Bennett revealed. "But I got him to do a few other things (including a stint as a Queensland Cup mentor) to make him a better coach."

-AAP