Granty
17-05-2006, 07:30 AM
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/story/0,20797,19159973-5003409,00.html
Bowen's barrage
Steve Ricketts
May 17, 2006
QUEENSLAND State of Origin fullback Matt Bowen is expecting his club coach Graham Murray to direct a NSW bomb barrage his way in next Wednesday's series opener at Sydney's Telstra Stadium.
The Queenslanders believe Murray will use his knowledge of the four Cowboys players in the Queensland camp to his advantage, with Bowen the obvious target after an unhappy night under the high ball against the Roosters in round 8.
That performance cost Bowen a place in the Test side with Roosters and Australian coach Ricky Stuart opting for Broncos youngster Karmichael Hunt instead.
Cowboys and Queensland assistant coach Neil Henry said yesterday Murray would be hard pressed coming up with weaknesses in Bowen, Matt Scott, Johnathan Thurston and Carl Webb's games.
"Obviously the high ball will be a tactic but Matty is just as good as any other fullback in that area," Henry said. "They all have their off nights."
NSW halves Craig Gower and Braith Anasta shape as the chief architects of any bombing raid although interchange star Craig Wing from the Roosters also is strong in that department.
Bowen said Henry was the one who worked on his game after his poor night against the Roosters.
"Neil talked to me about what I needed to fix up and work on," he said. "I've been doing what he has advised me and hopefully things will pay off in the long run as well as next Wednesday at Telstra.
"Neil knows his footy and with all his knowledge he'll be great for the Queensland side."
Bowen said he understood why he missed out on the Australian side and he did not believe it came down to the match against the Roosters.
"I hadn't been playing consistently before that and I think Karmichael deserved his spot," Bowen said. "He's a lot bigger than me and selectors were obviously looking at size.
"I just focused on playing consistently for the Cowboys and if I did that I hoped Origin would come. It has, and now I'm going to take the chance with both hands."
Bowen (175cm and 78kg) said his lack of size had never been a problem and he could only remember being concussed once in his career.
NSW fullback Brett Hodgson is the same height and weight and he can expect to get his share of high balls from Thurston and Queensland skipper Darren Lockyer.
After losing to the Roosters before the Test, Bowen was on the losing side again before Origin, this time at the hands of the Melbourne Storm whose star was fullback Greg Inglis, selected to play on the wing for Queensland.
Queensland coach Mal Meninga was in awe of what he described as a "shootout between Bowen and Inglis" in a match described by many commentators as the best of the year.
Meninga said the pace of the game was similar to that of Origin and the performance of Bowen and Inglis made it impossible to ignore their claims for maroon jumpers.
"It was a good game, a good battle," Bowen said yesterday. "It was pretty fast and it took a lot out of us. But it was played in good spirit."
Former Sydney policeman Sean Hampstead, 38, will referee Origin I.
Hampstead controlled two matches in 2004 but missed out last year with Paul Simpkins refereeing Origins I and III while Steve Clark refereed Origin II.
Simpkins is injured and Clark is not favoured by either Queensland or NSW.
Bowen's barrage
Steve Ricketts
May 17, 2006
QUEENSLAND State of Origin fullback Matt Bowen is expecting his club coach Graham Murray to direct a NSW bomb barrage his way in next Wednesday's series opener at Sydney's Telstra Stadium.
The Queenslanders believe Murray will use his knowledge of the four Cowboys players in the Queensland camp to his advantage, with Bowen the obvious target after an unhappy night under the high ball against the Roosters in round 8.
That performance cost Bowen a place in the Test side with Roosters and Australian coach Ricky Stuart opting for Broncos youngster Karmichael Hunt instead.
Cowboys and Queensland assistant coach Neil Henry said yesterday Murray would be hard pressed coming up with weaknesses in Bowen, Matt Scott, Johnathan Thurston and Carl Webb's games.
"Obviously the high ball will be a tactic but Matty is just as good as any other fullback in that area," Henry said. "They all have their off nights."
NSW halves Craig Gower and Braith Anasta shape as the chief architects of any bombing raid although interchange star Craig Wing from the Roosters also is strong in that department.
Bowen said Henry was the one who worked on his game after his poor night against the Roosters.
"Neil talked to me about what I needed to fix up and work on," he said. "I've been doing what he has advised me and hopefully things will pay off in the long run as well as next Wednesday at Telstra.
"Neil knows his footy and with all his knowledge he'll be great for the Queensland side."
Bowen said he understood why he missed out on the Australian side and he did not believe it came down to the match against the Roosters.
"I hadn't been playing consistently before that and I think Karmichael deserved his spot," Bowen said. "He's a lot bigger than me and selectors were obviously looking at size.
"I just focused on playing consistently for the Cowboys and if I did that I hoped Origin would come. It has, and now I'm going to take the chance with both hands."
Bowen (175cm and 78kg) said his lack of size had never been a problem and he could only remember being concussed once in his career.
NSW fullback Brett Hodgson is the same height and weight and he can expect to get his share of high balls from Thurston and Queensland skipper Darren Lockyer.
After losing to the Roosters before the Test, Bowen was on the losing side again before Origin, this time at the hands of the Melbourne Storm whose star was fullback Greg Inglis, selected to play on the wing for Queensland.
Queensland coach Mal Meninga was in awe of what he described as a "shootout between Bowen and Inglis" in a match described by many commentators as the best of the year.
Meninga said the pace of the game was similar to that of Origin and the performance of Bowen and Inglis made it impossible to ignore their claims for maroon jumpers.
"It was a good game, a good battle," Bowen said yesterday. "It was pretty fast and it took a lot out of us. But it was played in good spirit."
Former Sydney policeman Sean Hampstead, 38, will referee Origin I.
Hampstead controlled two matches in 2004 but missed out last year with Paul Simpkins refereeing Origins I and III while Steve Clark refereed Origin II.
Simpkins is injured and Clark is not favoured by either Queensland or NSW.