MICHAEL Morgan has staved off Lachlan Coote to win the Cowboys fullback spot as coach Paul Green revealed a team-sheet “typo” was behind Johnathan Thurston’s shock naming at five-eighth.

Green appeared to have pulled another selection switch with Thurston when the Maroons champion was named in the No. 6 jumper for Saturday night’s clash against the Roosters.

Thurston finished the second half of 2014 in the No. 7 jumper, and it appeared Green had conjured another selection surprise when he installed Robert Lui as halfback for Round 1.

But Green assured Cowboys fans Thurston would remain in the No. 7 jumper, saying he would investigate how the Test star appeared at five-eighth in an official team list sent to the NRL.

“It’s a typo,” Green told The Courier-Mail on Tuesday.

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“I don’t know who made the error and I’ll be working out who made the mistake.

“But there’s no tactical change, ‘Johnno’ will be playing in the No. 7 jumper and Robert Lui will be our five-eighth.”

Green also maintained the status quo with the versatile Morgan, whose grip on the fullback spot appeared to be slipping after Lachlan Coote threw down the gauntlet in pre-season.

Returning from a knee reconstruction, Coote wore the No. 1 jumper in two trials against the Broncos and Titans and made it clear he had his heart set on claiming the fullback spot.

But Green said Morgan’s outstanding form last year in the backfield was a factor in his difficult decision to leave Coote out of his 19-man squad.

“That (Morgan’s efforts in 2014) certainly came into consideration but it was also Cootey’s form this year,” he said.

“I’m not saying Lachlan was bad, but he’s only played six games in two years, he’s been out for 12 months and it will take him a bit longer to get back to his best.

“In pre-season, I wanted to get some footy into him without the pressure of the NRL.

“It was a tough call, but Cootey will play a part in our season at some stage, no doubt about it.”

In other selection news, Storm recruit Justin O’Neill beat Kyle Feldt to a wing spot, while at hooker Rory Kostjasyn did well to hold off Jake Granville, who will play off interchange.

Up front, Broncos import Ben Hannant has clinched a starting spot at the expense of James Tamou, who is recovering from neck surgery.

“I have the luxury of picking on form,” Green said. “It’s up to guys who get that chance to keep it too because they have quality players underneath them.”