Matt BOWEN [
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Fri May 1, 2009
by Steve Kaless
Source: The RoarIf 2009 was meant to herald the return to dominance of the little man in rugby league, then to borrow a phrase from our tourism board, "Where the bloody hell are they?"
The game was meant to be faster, meaning we were going to see more players like Matt Bowen carving up tiring forwards.
However, what coaches have found is that, while it might be easy to find someone the same size as the North Queensland speedster, finding someone with the same level of skill is an entirely different proposition.
Which means that as you look down the team sheets for this weekend's matches, you'll find that most coaches are still going for the tried and true formula of three forwards and a hooker.
Furthermore, when they have a hooker that can go for eighty minutes, like the Bulldogs' Michael Ennis, they are opting for a extra forward rather than diminutive game-breaker such as Ben Barba in the 'Dogs case.
Even the big units aren't looking to trim down.
Penrith's Trent Waterhouse, who is playing his best football since 2003, is doing so with an enlarged physique. The Panthers coaching staff admitted earlier this season they got it wrong when they thought forwards would get smaller and they felt that stripping down Waterhouse had probably lead to his drop in form.
So the past off-season was all about adding the bulk.
The same can be said for Greg Inglis. For all the Storm's science, if the game was for the elf this season, why turn Inglis into the biggest ever five eighth?
I'd argue that the big boppers are the ones enjoying the game in its current form. Just look at how many are scoring tries.
Barely a game goes by without a prop forward crashing over (or, in the Knights Danny Wicks case, sailing over) and it is due to the speed at which the game is played, which makes it is so hard for the defence to get set on the line.
Particularly the little man.
Chris Sandow and Preston Campbell are just the sort of players that attacks will focus on, and so often the big forward will be hurtling at them just as they have got back the ten.
There is nowhere to hide.
Not only will opposition coaches look to target the weaker defenders, they are even breaking it down to which shoulder they should run at. So player A might be suspect but if his inside shoulder is even worse than his outside, they'll go that way.
The big players are also playing more minutes, allowing coaches to be more judicious with their bench.
Remember when Glenn Lazarus was a freak in the modern game for playing 80 minutes? Now every club has a few forwards that can play without a break.
Coaches also used to bemoan having their bench reduced to, say, fifteen players. Yet, some, like the Dragons' Wayne Bennett, are choosing only to use fifteen for large parts of the game.
Bennett has twice this season kept an unused substitute - Matthew Head both times - on his bench for the entire match.
Small players with freakish skills have always had a place in rugby league. And that will always be the case.
But with all other things being equal, a big frame will still catch the eye of recruitment managers and coaches.
The key word is agility. So long as you can pick that bulk up and turn it around, you'll still enjoy a good career.
Steve Kaless is an expert columnist with www.theroar.com.au.
Wed April 29, 2009
by Steve Mascord
SYDNEY Roosters coach Brad Fittler has this morning made a remarkable request: that representative selectors ignore the claims of several of his star players.
Fittler tells Rugby League Week today that if the likes of Braith Anasta, Willie Mason, Craig Fitzgibbon and Mark O'Meley are no hope of playing for New South Wales then it is pointless picking them for City-Country.
"If guys aren't being seriously considered for NSW, then this is probably a game for blooding young players,'' Fittler exclusively comments in RLW.
"If these players were left out for being so-called 'past it' then picking them for City-Country would seem to be contradictory to what representative football is all about.
"If they do get chosen, I'm sure they'll do their best and they will go with the club's full blessing but I thought all rep teams were picked with an eye on the future.''
Elsewhere, columnist Mark Geyer weighs into the Ricky Stuart-Phil Gould stoush by outlining how he would help struggling Cronulla.
"I can understand why Ricky wouldn't want Gus around but with the wooden spoon already in the mailing centre awaiting delivery to the Shire, maybe it's time he looked to someone different,'' Geyer writes.
"Someone like me?''
Sharks five-eighth Trent Barrett, meanwhile, is in line for a shock return to representative football after a four-year absence.
And the biggest surprise is that the comeback is set to be as Country's starting halfback, ahead of Newcastle gun Jarrod Mullen. The magazine says Barrett has considerable support from selectors and Laurie Daley's coaching staff going into this weekend's matches.
Chairman of selectors Jock Colley says: "Despite Trent being overlooked by NSW we think he still has plenty to offer Country.
"He will be strongly considered for our side.''
Manly have copped a bucketing from one of their own, 1982 Kangaroos skipper Max Krilich saying: "It's the props who need to lift.
"(Brent) Kite and (Josh) Perry haven't been going forward and making the territory and it needs to change - they have to do their job.''
Queensland chairman of selectors Des Morris, meanwhile, has revealed the Maroons could use all three of their gun fullbacks - Billy Slater, Karmichael Hunt and Matt Bowen - in the same side during this year's State of Origin series against NSW.
North Queensland's Bowen missed out on the preliminary Maroons squad named last night but Morris tells RLW he has rocketed back into contention in recent weeks.
Round Eight star Jamie Soward tells RLW how Wayne Bennett helped him exorcise his demons and Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore has guaranteed veteran winger Hazem El Masri his spot as long as he holds his current form.
The Mole reveals ANZAC Day hero Soward's link to Gallipoli, plus Matt Cooper, Darren Lockyer and Jarryd Hayne and the best in features, pictures and league news from around the globe.
Only in RUGBY LEAGUE WEEK, out now!
======================================================================================================
 2009 NRL Telstra Premiership
North Queensland Cowboys
13 games; 7 tries, 28 points.
[View] Round 1 [13 Mar 09] L 18-19 v Broncos (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 2 [21 Mar 09] W 42-14 v Tigers (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 3 [28 Mar 09] L 12-26 v Storm (H). [FB]
[View] Round 4 [06 Apr 09] L 18-23 v Raiders (A). [FB]
[View] Round 5 [11 Apr 09] L 10-14 v Gold Coast (H). [FB]
[View] Round 6 [19 Apr 09] W 34-10 v Sharks (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 7 [25 Apr 09] W 26-12 v Sea Eagles (H). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 8 [01 May 09] L 18-28 v Eels (A). [FB]
[View] Round 9 [09 May 09] W 24-20 v Dragons (H). [FB]
[View] Round 10 [17 May 09] W 34-12 v Warriors (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 11 [25 May 09] W 36-10 v Knights (H). [FB]
[View] Round 13 [06 Jun 09] W 46-12 v Rabbitohs (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 14 [14 Jun 09] L 18-32 v Dragons (A). [FB]
======================================================================================================
2008 NRL Telstra Premiership
North Queensland Cowboys
6 games; 3 tries, 12 points.
[View] Round 1 [14 Mar 08] L 18-36 v Gold Coast (A). [FB]
[View] Round 2 [22 Mar 08] L 10-30 v Tigers (H). [FB]
[View] Round 3 [28 Mar 08] L 2-36 v Broncos (A). [FB]
[View] Round 6 [19 Apr 08] W 48-20 v Warriors (H). [FB] 12 Pts; 3t
[View] Round 7 [26 Apr 08] L 10-12 v Storm (H). [FB]
[View] Round 8 [04 May 08] L 24-28 v Rabbitohs (A). [FB]
======================================================================================================
2007 State of Origin
Queensland Origin
1 games; [View] Origin [04 Jul 07] L 4-18 v NSW Origin (H). [BE]
======================================================================================================
2007 NRL Telstra Premiership
North Queensland Cowboys
25 games; 21 tries, 2 field goals, 86 points.
[View] Round 1 [16 Mar 07] W 23-16 v Broncos (A). [FB] 5 Pts; 1t (73rd), 1fg
[View] Round 2 [24 Mar 07] W 43-6 v Roosters (H). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t (58th, 76th)
[View] Round 3 [31 Mar 07] W 22-18 v Dragons (A). [FB]
[View] Round 4 [07 Apr 07] W 25-24 v Tigers (H). [FB] 5 Pts; 1t (74th), 1fg
[View] Round 5 [15 Apr 07] L 14-34 v Warriors (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (7th)
[View] Round 6 [23 Apr 07] L 6-10 v Rabbitohs (H). [FB]
[View] Round 7 [28 Apr 07] W 30-26 v Sea Eagles (H). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t (26th, 58th)
[View] Round 8 [07 May 07] W 24-10 v Gold Coast (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 9 [12 May 07] L 12-22 v Panthers (H). [FB]
[View] Round 10 [19 May 07] L 14-44 v Eels (A). [FB]
[View] Round 11 [25 May 07] W 26-16 v Bulldogs (A). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 12 [02 Jun 07] W 26-24 v Sharks (H). [FB]
[View] Round 13 [09 Jun 07] L 30-64 v Roosters (A). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 14 [16 Jun 07] L 12-58 v Storm (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 15 [23 Jun 07] W 28-24 v Raiders (A). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 17 [07 Jul 07] W 18-12 v Warriors (H). [FB]
[View] Round 18 [13 Jul 07] L 16-24 v Broncos (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 19 [22 Jul 07] L 14-20 v Rabbitohs (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 20 [30 Jul 07] L 10-54 v Tigers (A). [FB]
[View] Round 21 [04 Aug 07] W 28-22 v Raiders (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 22 [13 Aug 07] W 30-26 v Panthers (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 23 [18 Aug 07] W 24-14 v Dragons (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 24 [24 Aug 07] W 34-18 v Knights (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 25 [31 Aug 07] W 38-32 v Bulldogs (H). [FB]
[View] Finals Week 3 [22 Sep 07] L 6-28 v Sea Eagles. [FB]
======================================================================================================
2006 State of Origin
Queensland Origin
1 games; [View] Origin [24 May 06] L 16-17 v NSW Origin (A). [FB]
======================================================================================================
2006 NRL Telstra Premiership
North Queensland Cowboys
24 games; 5 tries, 20 points.
[View] Round 1 [12 Mar 06] W 36-4 v Broncos (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 2 [18 Mar 06] W 20-16 v Sea Eagles (H). [FB]
[View] Round 3 [25 Mar 06] W 40-8 v Storm (H). [FB]
[View] Round 4 [31 Mar 06] W 26-18 v Eels (A). [FB]
[View] Round 5 [07 Apr 06] W 32-12 v Tigers (H). [FB]
[View] Round 6 [16 Apr 06] W 18-16 v Knights (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 7 [22 Apr 06] L 22-24 v Sharks (A). [FB]
[View] Round 8 [29 Apr 06] L 18-22 v Roosters (H). [FB]
[View] Round 9 [06 May 06] W 22-6 v Panthers (H). [FB]
[View] Round 10 [13 May 06] L 6-18 v Storm (A). [FB]
[View] Round 12 [27 May 06] L 14-15 v Raiders (H). [FB]
[View] Round 13 [04 Jun 06] L 14-24 v Tigers (A). [FB]
[View] Round 14 [10 Jun 06] L 4-26 v Sharks (H). [FB]
[View] Round 15 [18 Jun 06] L 12-20 v Bulldogs (A). [FB]
[View] Round 16 [24 Jun 06] L 14-34 v Dragons (A). [FB]
[View] Round 17 [01 Jul 06] W 16-14 v Rabbitohs (H). [FB]
[View] Round 19 [15 Jul 06] L 8-17 v Panthers (A). [FB]
[View] Round 20 [22 Jul 06] W 26-10 v Broncos (H). [FB]
[View] Round 21 [30 Jul 06] L 20-40 v Roosters (A). [FB]
[View] Round 22 [05 Aug 06] L 14-54 v Bulldogs (H). [FB]
[View] Round 23 [12 Aug 06] L 0-26 v Warriors (A). [FB]
[View] Round 24 [19 Aug 06] L 12-19 v Knights (H). [FB]
[View] Round 25 [27 Aug 06] W 34-12 v Rabbitohs (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 26 [01 Sep 06] W 22-8 v Eels (H). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t
======================================================================================================
2005 State of Origin
Queensland Origin
3 games; 3 tries, 12 points.
[View] Origin [25 May 05] W 24-20 v NSW Origin (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t (84th)
[View] Origin [15 Jun 05] L 22-32 v NSW Origin (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t (69th)
[View] Origin [06 Jul 05] L 10-32 v NSW Origin (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (77th)
======================================================================================================
2005 NRL Telstra Premiership
North Queensland Cowboys
25 games; 20 tries, 80 points.
[View] Round 1 [13 Mar 05] L 16-29 v Broncos (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (23rd)
[View] Round 2 [18 Mar 05] W 24-12 v Bulldogs (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (21st)
[View] Round 3 [27 Mar 05] W 32-22 v Warriors (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (80th)
[View] Round 4 [02 Apr 05] W 52-18 v Knights (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (21st)
[View] Round 5 [09 Apr 05] L 6-38 v Sharks (A). [FB]
[View] Round 6 [16 Apr 05] W 44-20 v Tigers (H). [FB]
[View] Round 7 [23 Apr 05] W 36-22 v Panthers (A). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t (20th, 63rd)
[View] Round 8 [30 Apr 05] W 38-18 v Roosters (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (58th)
[View] Round 9 [08 May 05] L 12-50 v Eels (A). [FB]
[View] Round 10 [14 May 05] L 6-23 v Broncos (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (5th)
[View] Round 12 [27 May 05] W 48-12 v Bulldogs (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (46th)
[View] Round 13 [04 Jun 05] W 56-14 v Sharks (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (65th)
[View] Round 16 [25 Jun 05] L 22-23 v Raiders (A). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t (2nd, 12th)
[View] Round 18 [10 Jul 05] L 18-22 v Knights (A). [FB]
[View] Round 19 [16 Jul 05] L 14-16 v Souths (H). [FB]
[View] Round 20 [23 Jul 05] W 38-18 v Panthers (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (32nd)
[View] Round 21 [31 Jul 05] W 26-24 v Sea Eagles (A). [FB]
[View] Round 22 [05 Aug 05] L 16-36 v Dragons (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (42nd)
[View] Round 23 [14 Aug 05] L 16-28 v Tigers (A). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (34th)
[View] Round 24 [20 Aug 05] W 31-28 v Raiders (H). [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (48th)
[View] Round 25 [28 Aug 05] W 30-16 v Souths (A). [FB]
[View] Round 26 [03 Sep 05] W 30-24 v Storm (H). [FB] 8 Pts; 2t (14th, 56th)
[View] Finals Week One [09 Sep 05] L 6-50 v Tigers (A). [FB]
[View] Qualifying Finals [25 Sep 05] W 29-0 v Eels. [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (23rd)
[View] Grand Final [02 Oct 05] L 16-30 v Tigers. [FB] 4 Pts; 1t (8th)
======================================================================================================
2004 NRL Telstra Premiership
North Queensland Cowboys
======================================================================================================
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Bowen, Matt
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