Matt Bowen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Matt Bowen

Personal information
Full name	Matthew Jeremy Bowen
Born	(1982-03-09) 9 March 1982 (age 43) Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height	172 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
Position	Fullback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2001–13 North Qld Cowboys 270 130 36 5 597 2014–15 Wigan Warriors 45 24 31 0 158 Total 315 154 67 5 755 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2003–07 Queensland 10 4 0 0 16 2004 Australia 1 0 0 0 0 2011–12 Indigenous All Stars 2 1 0 0 4 2010–11 Prime Minister's XIII 2 0 0 0 0
Relatives	Brenton Bowen (cousin) Javid Bowen (nephew)

Matthew Jeremy Bowen (born 9 March 1982), often called "Mango," is a former professional rugby league player from Australia. He played as a fullback. Matt was known for his amazing skills and speed.

He played for the North Queensland Cowboys in Australia's National Rugby League (NRL). He holds the record for playing the most games for the Cowboys. Later, he played for the Wigan Warriors in England's Super League. Matt was the top try-scorer in the NRL in both 2005 and 2007. He also represented his home state, Queensland, and his country, Australia.

Early Life and Rugby Beginnings

Matt Bowen was born in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. He grew up in a place called Hopevale in Cape York. When he was 12, he started playing rugby league at St. Teresa's College, Abergowrie.

In 1999, his school team won a big competition in Queensland. Matt was even named the best player of that tournament! Many big NRL clubs wanted him to join them. But Matt chose to play for his local team, the North Queensland Cowboys. In 2000, he played for the Cowboys' reserve team and was chosen for the Queensland under-19 team.

Professional Playing Career

Starting Out in the NRL (2001-2004)

Matt Bowen made his first NRL appearance in 2001 for the North Queensland Cowboys. He played against the Brisbane Broncos in his very first game. He scored his first try in Round 9 against the Canberra Raiders. In his first year, Matt played 15 games and scored six tries. He also played as a halfback for the Junior Kangaroos team.

In 2002, Matt became the main fullback for the Cowboys. He had a great season, scoring 12 tries in 24 games. In 2003, he played for Queensland in the State of Origin series for the first time. He scored his first hat-trick of tries in a game against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

The Cowboys reached the finals for the first time in 2004. Matt played a big part, scoring 11 tries. He also scored a try in the Cowboys' first-ever finals win. That year, he played in all three State of Origin games for Queensland. He even got to play for the Australian Kangaroos team in a game against France.

Becoming a Star (2005-2007)

In 2005, a new player named Johnathan Thurston joined the Cowboys. He and Matt Bowen became a fantastic team. Together, they helped the Cowboys reach their first-ever 2005 NRL Grand Final. Even though Matt scored the first try, they lost the final. Matt was the top try-scorer in the NRL in 2005 with 21 tries.

He also had a famous moment in the 2005 State of Origin series. He intercepted a pass and ran to score a try in extra time, winning the game for Queensland!

In 2007, Matt had his best individual season. He was again the NRL's top try-scorer with 22 tries. He also made the most line breaks and tackle breaks in the league. He won many awards, including the Rugby League Player Association's Player of the Year. He was also named the Cowboys' Player of the Year. Many people called him the "best fullback in the game."

Matt Bowen in 2008

Dealing with Injuries (2008-2010)

Matt faced some tough times with injuries. In 2008, he injured his left knee and needed surgery. This meant he missed most of that season. The Cowboys struggled without him.

In 2009, he returned and scored 12 tries. But then he injured his right knee in the same way. This second injury kept him out for the rest of 2009 and the start of 2010. The Cowboys had a difficult 2010 season. Matt played his 200th game for the Cowboys that year.

Return to Form and Farewell to Cowboys (2011-2013)

Matt Bowen returned to his best form in 2011. He played 25 games and scored 8 tries. He also broke the record for the most NRL games played by a Cowboys player. The Cowboys improved and made it to the finals again. Matt signed a new contract, saying he loved the club and wanted to stay near his family.

In 2012, Matt played his 250th game for the Cowboys. He was a key player, helping with many tries. He finished second in the Dally M Medal count, which is a big award for the best player in the NRL. He scored 13 tries that season, his most since 2007.

The 2013 season was Matt's last with the Cowboys. He announced he would be leaving the club. In his final home game, he scored two tries and was carried off the field by his teammates. He played his last NRL game in a finals match against the Cronulla Sharks.

Matt later shared that the club told him they didn't have a spot for him anymore. He felt sad about leaving the team he loved.

Playing in England (2014-2015)

After leaving the Cowboys, Matt Bowen signed with the Wigan Warriors in England for the 2014 season. He played his first game for Wigan against Huddersfield. He scored 15 tries in his first season in England. He even scored three tries in one game against the Hunslet Hawks.

Matt Bowen playing for Wigan Warriors in 2014

Wigan reached the 2014 Super League Grand Final, and Matt played fullback in the final. However, they lost the game.

In 2015, Matt continued to play for Wigan. He took over the team's goal-kicking duties. He scored 9 tries and kicked 31 goals in his final season. His very last game was the 2015 Super League Grand Final. He scored a try and kicked four goals, but Wigan lost again. This meant he ended his career with three Grand Final defeats.

Post-Playing Career and Return to Australia

After retiring from professional rugby league, Matt Bowen returned to Australia. He took on a role as a Community Engagement Officer for his old club, the North Queensland Cowboys. He also became one of the NRL's Community Ambassadors in 2016.

In 2016, Matt made a special one-off return to play for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL Auckland Nines tournament. He also played a few games for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Intrust Super Cup, even earning "man of the match" honors in one game.

Achievements and Awards

Matt Bowen received many awards during his career:

• Dally M Fullback of the Year: 2007
• Rugby League Week Player of the Year: 2007
• North Queensland Cowboys Player of the Year: 2007
• North Queensland Cowboys Players' player of the Year: 2007
• RLPA Player of the Year 2007
• North Queensland Cowboys Life Member
• North Queensland Cowboys 10th Anniversary team
• North Queensland Cowboys 20th Anniversary team

He also played in three Grand Finals, though his teams were runners-up each time:

• 2005 NRL Grand Final: North Queensland Cowboys – Runners-up
• 2014 Super League Grand Final: Wigan Warriors - Runners-up
• 2015 Super League Grand Final: Wigan Warriors - Runners-up

Family Life

Matt Bowen was born to Richard and Lillian Bowen. He has four brothers and one sister. His cousin, Brenton Bowen, also played rugby league with him at the Cowboys. His nephew, Javid Bowen, is currently a player for the Cowboys. Another nephew, Rex Liddy, played Australian Rules Football.

Matt is married to Rudie Doyle. They have two daughters, Diaz and Tatum, and one son, Matthew Jr.