Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
247	247	0	19	0	0	57

Joe Morgan must rank as one of the most versatile players ever to wear the Rovers jersey. Although he made 134 appearances at loose forward, he also appeared at scrum-half (30), centre (35), stand-off (34), wing (2) and second row (12). He made his senior debut at scrum-half at Dewsbury, on 7 December 1921 in Rovers' inaugural season in senior rugby and was the fifth scrum-half tried. He remained there for the rest of the season, but then switched to centre and stand-off in the following season, and so the changes continued to be rung.  It wasn't until 1927/28 that he settled to the loose forward position.

He had his share of injuries. In June 1923, his spine was injured in a roof fall at the local colliery and, having recovered from that, he was then out for most of the season with a rupture. He was also injured in February 1929 and, after returning in September, he had his jaw broken at Hull KR after only three matches. Despite this, he was the mainstay of the side for many years and with his versatility came an enthusiasm which was infectious. He revelled as captain in 1930/31 and in that season he inspired a great tussle with Swinton, the league leaders, in the first round of the RL Cup, narrowly won by the visitors by 7 points to 2. Playing at stand-off a year later in the same round, his brilliant play almost inspired a surprise win as Castleford scraped home 6-2. There was triple disappointment in 1928 as the Rovers were beaten in the League Championship and Yorkshire Cup finals and he missed out in selection for the tour to Australasia when many thought his play warranted a place. He seemed fated not to fulfil any representative honours. Selected to make his Yorkshire county debut on 28 January 1929, the fixture against Cumberland was cancelled because of the weather and because it had no bearing on the championship.

On 8 March 1930 at Huddersfield, the Morgan family created a record when the team-sheet read number 2 Tom Morgan, number 7 Joe Morgan, number 10 Luke Morgan - Joe's brothers were playing with him for the first time. They appeared together on two further occasions in 1930/31. On 29 October 1932, Joe played his last game for the Rovers at home to Workington, at loose forward. It is difficult to imagine a more steadfast, committed and whole-hearted player who had played his part in establishing the Rovers as a senior club. He and his brother Luke gave great service, making 416 appearances between them.

 

Biography by Ron Bailey