Cowboys pairing was stuff of legend
THEY’LL be hanging from the rafters tonight when Johnathan Thurston plays his final game in Townsville.
There has never been a more beloved Cowboy.
Except, of course, for his partner in crime, the other half of the old firm, Matt Bowen.
When they talk about the great combinations, just know Bowen and Thurston are right up there with any of them.
The two fed off each other in near telepathic fashion. It was often said they didn’t even need to speak to link up, there was just a shout or a wink and it was on, and Bowen says it’s true.
“We could just give a wink and a nod and do all our different stuff. He knew what I wanted and I knew what he wanted,” Bowen said. “It sort of came as second nature.”
Bowen was North Queensland’s first homegrown superstar, and when Thurston joined the club in 2005 it was a match made in heaven. Their names are written in everlasting ink, both together and separately, across Cowboys lore.
According to Bowen, the combination stemmed from two things – trust on the field and close friendship off it.
“It has to happen off the field to be a good combination playing on the field,” he said.
Bowen had his own emotional farewell from Townsville five years ago, scoring a double against the Tigers in a 50-22 belting.
A finals loss to Cronulla the next week was his final game for the club – and the last time he touched the ball, it was from a Thurston pass.
But the 36-year old is still playing – he’s got his preliminary final for Centrals in the local Townsville comp against Herbert River this weekend.