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Heard from a club coach that Bowen`s fitness is well below the levels the club set as standard, looks like he has had a good Christmas bless him. Also said he was one of the nicest blokes you could wish to meet.

It wouldn't surprise me if he is out of shape given the way the aussie press were saying he'd retired when he signed for us. Hopefully he'll be up to speed for the world club challenge.

He may be similar to Mark Riddell in that his injuries / age means he needs to be treated very differently from much younger, fitter players. IMO Bowen is not the amazing 1 v 1 stepper that he was at the same age as Sam and is now slightly portly BUT what he does is pass more often and to a higher standard which may mean more breaks / tries for our centres. I think he still knows when / how to step and go himself. He is also far more consistent defusing bombs etc.

Given Bowen played most of the 2013 NRL season, certainly all the final games; Bowen played his enter home career in the N.Queensland climate then I think / hope he will be fine particularly given his rugby brain.

cpwigan wrote:He may be similar to Mark Riddell in that his injuries / age means he needs to be treated very differently from much younger, fitter players. IMO Bowen is not the amazing 1 v 1 stepper that he was at the same age as Sam and is now slightly portly BUT what he does is pass more often and to a higher standard which may mean more breaks / tries for our centres. I think he still knows when / how to step and go himself. He is also far more consistent defusing bombs etc.

Given Bowen played most of the 2013 NRL season, certainly all the final games; Bowen played his enter home career in the N.Queensland climate then I think / hope he will be fine particularly given his rugby brain.

Not trying to tempt fate, but this winter has been an awful lot kinder than it could have been. Get this month out of the way and we should be seeing the odd day to reach 60!

I saw him several times last season on Premier Sports and even though he may have lost a little speed he is so explosive off the mark.If he can stay fit he will be the best Full back in SL

He is out eating with Pettybourne quite a lot based on their twitter feeds. I'm sure the club will have a plan for him though. He can still get it done based on what I saw of him last year, and he's played the majority of Cowboys games each of the last three years. I don't see any way he isn't going to star, unless he doesn't really want it...but then, why come? He would have had a cushy community position at Cowboys for sure if he had decided to retire, but at 31 going on 32 there is no reason why he shouldn't be able to get himself in to shape.

markill wrote:He is out eating with Pettybourne quite a lot based on their twitter feeds. I'm sure the club will have a plan for him though. He can still get it done based on what I saw of him last year, and he's played the majority of Cowboys games each of the last three years. I don't see any way he isn't going to star, unless he doesn't really want it...but then, why come? He would have had a cushy community position at Cowboys for sure if he had decided to retire, but at 31 going on 32 there is no reason why he shouldn't be able to get himself in to shape.

A nice wedge off us then back to Aus for his cushy job.

IIRC Bowen has not played a game for Wigan yet :exc:

Lets give him a chance before we hang him

cpwigan wrote:IIRC Bowen has not played a game for Wigan yet :exc:

Lets give him a chance before we hang him

I agree.

That said I can't say swapping him for Sam, which is what it amounts to, is good but if he isn't up to it the club should be the target not him. The club went for him, he didn't come looking.

I am looking forward to seeing him play. FB is an 80 min position and come the crunch games (if we get to them) we need him to be the 80 min no 1. The kids are not ready yet.