Family bond inspires Lowe to strive
Ethan Lowe has an inkling of a Cowboys victory tonight
“ONE day your life will flash before your eyes, make sure it’s worth watching. Practise perfection. Have no regrets. Always learn. Do what you love.”
These 25 words inked on Ethan Lowe’s ribs are the Cowboys forward’s life mantra.
They’re a tribute to his late great grandmother, Vicky, who passed away during his last year of under-20s in 2011.
It was a special bond for the 26-year-old. Catching up with his great grandmother on a Friday night at his home town of Goondiwindi became a tradition he cherished.
“Every Friday night I’d sleep over at hers from when I was a little kid,” Lowe said.
“Even when I finished school, if I was home I’d go over and spend Friday night with her. “She’d make me watch
Home and Away, then we’d watch the footy after that.”
Tattoos take up most of the real estate on Lowe’s torso, but a few have special significance.
The first is the Cowboys logo on his right hip to celebrate the 2015 premiership. The artwork on his right arm is a plea for all religious beliefs to be embraced with images of an angel, a Buddha and Ganesh with the words “all religions must be respected, as each man finds his own way”.
“Every person has their own faith and their own way to do what they want to do,” Lowe said. “I believe there’s something greater, but I don’t know what it is.”
On his left arm are Perseus and Medusa, characters from Greek mythology.
“If you read the story, it’s about doing something impossible to help your family,” Lowe said.
On his wrist is a swallow he and partner Kate both had done when she briefly moved to Melbourne.
Today’s preliminary final against the Roosters is particularly special for Lowe after injury ruled him out of the corresponding clash with Cronulla last year.
Lowe hurt his neck in an awkward tackle against Mel- bourne in the first week of finals, ruling him out for the season.
After overcoming some mental hurdles upon his return this year, Lowe has found his best form at the right time.
“She (great grandmother) used to hate football, she’d always be scared that I’d get hurt,” Lowe said.
“She still always supported me, but hated watching it.
“I knew if I worked hard I could get back to where I need to be. It’s always special when you get there (preliminary final) and probably that extra sweet I missed out on last year and have a chance of going one better.”
SHE’D MAKE ME WATCH HOME AND AWAY, THEN WE’D WATCH THE FOOTY AFTER THAT ETHAN LOWE
CCPE01Z01MA - V1
TATTOOS take up most of the real estate on Cowboys second rower Ethan Lowe’s torso, but a few have special significance.
The first is the Cowboys logo on his right hip to celebrate the 2015 premiership. Others include a plea for all religious beliefs to be embraced, two characters from Greek mythology and a tribute to his late great grandmother. “She’d make me watch Home and
Away, then we’d watch footy,” he said.