Paul Bowman (rugby league)

Paul Bowman

Bowman in 2007
Personal information
Full name	Paul Jenkins Bowman
Nickname	Bear
Born	(1976-01-24) 24 January 1976 Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height	185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	98 kg (15 st 6 lb)
Position	Centre
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1995–07	North Qld. Cowboys	203	62	1	0	202
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2000–05	Queensland	12	2	0	0	8
Source: NRL Stats and Yesterdays Hero

Paul Bowman (born 24 January 1976 in Newcastle, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He spent five years as regular Queensland State of Origin centre and played his entire club career at the North Queensland Cowboys of the National Rugby League whom he also captained. He is the current Cowboys' assistant coach.

Playing career

With 203 games, Bowman has played the most games for the Cowboys and was the last player from the Cowboys' inaugural season to be still playing for the club in 2007. Renowned as one of the best defensive centres in the competition, Bowman has also represented Queensland in the State of Origin competition twelve times since 2000. He scored two tries in game III of the 2003 Origin series

Bowman was named the Cowboys' player of the year in 1999 and the following year he shared the award with Julian O'Neill

Bowman captained the Cowboy's between 2001 and 2004. In game 1 of the 2003 State of Origin series Bowman suffered medial ligament and cartilage damage to his left knee in an awkward tackle that would see him sidelined for four weeks. Remarkably however, despite being unable to walk, he stayed on the field as long as possible, still managing to make several tackles before getting a chance to leave the field.

Bowman played at centre in the Cowboys' loss to the Wests Tigers in the 2005 NRL grand final.

The Paul Bowman Medal is awarded to each year's best and fairest A-grade player for the Whitsunday Brahmans, Bowman's junior club in North Queensland.

Retirement

Bowman retired at the end of the 2007 season, ending a 13-year career with the Cowboys. Bowman played his last regular season game on 31 August against the Bulldogs in Townsville.

In 2007, the Cowboys announced that the Cowboy of the Year award would be renamed the Paul Bowman Award.

Statistics

Club

Year	Team	M	T	G	FG	P
1995	16px North Queensland Cowboys	7	1	0	0	4
1996	16px North Queensland Cowboys	6	2	0	0	8
1997	16px North Queensland Cowboys	10	2	0	0	8
1998	16px North Queensland Cowboys	6	1	0	0	4
1999	16px North Queensland Cowboys	16	2	0	0	8
2000	16px North Queensland Cowboys	20	8	0	0	32
2001	16px North Queensland Cowboys	25	12	0	0	48
2002	16px North Queensland Cowboys	14	10	0	0	40
2003	16px North Queensland Cowboys	16	3	0	0	12
2004	16px North Queensland Cowboys	21	4	0	0	16
2005	16px North Queensland Cowboys	25	9	0	0	36
2006	16px North Queensland Cowboys	16	3	0	0	12
2007	16px North Queensland Cowboys	21	5	1	0	22

Representative

Year	Team	M	T	G	FG	P
2000	Queensland	3	0	0	0	0
2001	Queensland	3	2	0	0	8
2003	Queensland	1	0	0	0	0
2004	Queensland	2	0	0	0	0
2005	Queensland	3	0	0	0	0

Highlights

• First Grade Debut: 1995, Round 16, Cowboys v South Sydney Rabbitohs at Aussie Stadium, 15 July
• Runners-up: 2005, member of the Cowboy's team defeated by the Wests Tigers in the 2005 Grand Final

Coaching career

Following the departure of Graham Murray, assistant coach Ian Millward was named head coach. On 26 May 2008, Bowman was named assistant coach in a deal to the end of 2010.

Awards and honours

• 1999: North Queensland Cowboys Player of the Year
• 2000: North Queensland Cowboys Player of the Year
• 2005: North Queensland Player's Player of the Year
• 2006: North Queensland Cowboys Life Membership (Bowman was the first person to be awarded life membership of the North Queensland Cowboys)

External links

• Paul Bowman at the Former Origin Greats website.
• Paul Bowman Cowboy's player profile
• Collection of writings on Paul Bowman