Morgan keen to have no regrets in endless quest
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Your support makes all the difference.Yesterday, he concentrated on preparing Toulouse for their monumental task against Leeds this afternoon. Then he will check in with Hull KR again before flying back to France and beginning work for the following weekend's French Championship final.
"I wish I could divide myself down the middle," he says. Morgan is what you might call "between jobs". But instead of that being a euphemism for having no job, the complication in this case is that he has two.
When he was appointed Rovers' new coach earlier this month, it was on the understanding that he would finish his commitments with the French club where he has made his reputation. "It's complicated and a little frustrating, but I'm used to spreading myself thinly," he says.
Morgan could claim to be rugby league's most multicultural figure. Apart from playing at the top level in his native Australia, New Zealand and France, he used his grandparental qualification to represent Wales in the 2000 World Cup. Now he is to add coaching in England to coaching in France, although his ultimate aim is to "go home" to the NRL in Australia.
To do that, he will probably have to steer Hull KR back into the élite of the British game, although further success with Toulouse this weekend would not hurt.
Most expect a side largely composed of part-timers, with students, traffic wardens and a policeman in today's team, to be swamped by Leeds, but Morgan insists: "We're going there to win."
That would be at the expense of an old mate who recommended him for the Rovers job - the Leeds coach, Tony Smith. "I'm a big fan of Tony. He's top of the list as far as I'm concerned - a fantastic coach and a good friend. I'm looking forward to coaching against him and hopefully it won't be the last time."
The two first worked together at Parramatta, where Morgan was a player and Smith was an assistant coach, along with Daniel Anderson, of St Helens. They have kept in regular touch, but Morgan is expecting no favours today. "We've had a bit of friendly banter since the semi-final draw was made," he says. "I've been trying to butter him up this week, but he hasn't been having any of that."
Morgan shrugs off suggestions that Leeds' outstanding form - even without their injured captain, Kevin Sinfield - could make this the most one-sided semi-final for years. "They're a fantastic side. They're world champions and they deserve to be," he admits. "But there's no pressure on us. It's just a great opportunity to add to our experience."
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