Qld don’t bite on Klemmer running style

Queensland captain Cameron Smith has refused to point the finger at David Klemmer over utility Michael Morgan’s concussion after the NSW forward’s running style raised eyebrows in the State of Origin opener.

The Maroons lost bench utility Morgan in the 50th minute when he came off second best attempting to tackle Klemmer.

Queensland hung on to claim a 6-4 series opening win at ANZ Stadium but Klemmer’s running action remained a talking point.

Klemmer appeared to raise his knees in each hit-up, catching Morgan as he attempted to tackle the Bulldogs bruiser.

However, Smith – who celebrated a record 37th Origin game – refused to bite when asked about Klemmer’s action.

“He’s got a style the way he runs and if the officials don’t see anything wrong with it then I don’t see anything wrong with it either,” he said.

Morgan also did not want to blame’s Klemmer’s running action when quizzed on the tackle.

“I think it just caught my head in a strange position,” he told AAP.

“He got me in the side of the head and just dazed me a little bit.

“It was just one of those things.”

Morgan was in Disneyland as he was helped off the field in the 50th minute but quickly regained his senses in an encouraging sign ahead of Origin II in three weeks’ time at Brisbane.

“I remember it all. I feel fine,” Morgan said.

“I passed all the tests when I came off but it was the footage they said that ruled me out.

“I was pretty frustrated about it.

“I looked at the footage on the big screen as I came off and I was a little bit embarrassed.

“I will be on the highlights reel for the wrong reasons.”

Morgan still rated his Origin I experience after slotting into the halves for injury concern Cooper Cronk during the lead-up.

Morgan trained all week at pivot after Cronk rolled his ankle at last Friday’s session.

Cronk received a last minute fitness clearance for Origin I after round-the-clock icing.

Morgan said Cronk showed why he was still the man to lead Queensland in the halves with his stirring Origin I display.

But Morgan believed he was now ready to step up as a Queensland starting half when Cronk was no longer available.

“I would like to think so. I would have been happy to do it,” he said.

“But I know the best option for this team is to have Coops there.

“I was annoying him all week asking how he was.

“But the way it worked out was great for the team.”

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