Barba can provide ‘ Mango magic’: JT
JOHNATHAN Thurston has hailed Ben Barba the new Matt Bowen and believes the former Dally M golden boy will bring some “Mango magic” back to the Cowboys.
Barba will join the Cowboys on a one- year deal next season and has returned to hometown Mackay in recent days after being crowned the English Super League’s player of the year following his exploits with St Helens.
The prestige Man of Steel gong was Barba’s reward for 34 tries from as many games at Saints.
The Cowboys are understandably banking on Barba’s backline brilliance to reignite their finals hopes in 2019. Barba will wear the decorated No. 1 jumper once owned by Bowen, who is revered as the club’s greatest fullback, having scored 130 tries from 270 games in Cowboys colours.
For nine seasons, the ThurstonBowen show was one of the most lethal alliances in the NRL, with the pair combining superbly to steer North Queensland to their maiden grand final in 2005.
Asked if Barba reminds him of fellow indigenous wizard Bowen, the newlyretired Thurston said: “Yes, for sure.
“We have seen that attack from Benny throughout his career.
“Having him there at fullback he has a lot of speed, he can change the game in the blink of an eye and that’s what we probably lacked throughout this year.
“Ben has a bit of speed, so hopefully he can score some tries for us.”
North Queensland endured a painful freefall last season, crashing to 13th spot, but coach Paul Green is hoping the acquisition of Barba and a fully- fit Michael Morgan will engineer a finals recovery.
Barba’s signing has major implications for Morgan.
The Cowboys’ $ 5 million man spent time at fullback before bicep surgery ended his nightmare 2018 campaign, but Morgan can now focus on a return to the halves to succeed Thurston as the club’s chief shot- caller.