Paul Bowman (rugby league)

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Paul Bowman
fullname = Paul Bowman
nickname = Bear


caption =
country =
position = rlp|CE
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1976|1|24|df=yes
placeofbirth = Newcastle, New South Wales
countryofbirth = Australia
height = 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
weight = 98 kg (15 st 6 lb)
club1 =
year1start = 1995
year1end = 2007
appearances1 = 203
tries1 = 62
goals1 = 1
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 250
teamA =
yearAstart = 2000
yearAend = 2005
appearancesA = 12
triesA = 2
goalsA = 0
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 8
source = [http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=133 NRL Stats] and [http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Paul-Bowman_133.aspx Yesterdays Hero]

Paul Bowman (born 24 January, 1976 in Newcastle, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He played his entire career for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League competition. He is the current Cowboys' assistant coach.cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,23760070-14823,00.html|title=Cowboys name Paul Bowman as assistant coach|publisher=Herald Sun|date=2008-05-26|accessdate=2008-05-26]

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 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.

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. [cite web|publisher="Queensland Rugby League"|title=Bowman Puts Name to Whitsunday Medal |url=http://www.qrl.com.au/display.php?pg_id=1425 |accessdate=2007-11-16]

Retirement

Bowman retired at the end of the 2007 season, ending a 13-year career with the Cowboys. [cite news|publisher="Fox Sports news (Australia)"|title=Bowman flags retirement plans |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,,21845916-23214,00.html |accessdate=2007-11-16|date=2007-07-04] 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".fact|date=November 2007

Coaching career

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

tatistics

Club career

Representative career

Career 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

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)

Footnotes

External links

*StateofOrigin player|286|title=Paul Bowman
*FOGS player|116|title=Paul Bowman
* [http://www.cowboys.com.au/players.php?comp=NRL%202007&id=6 Paul Bowman Cowboy's player profile]
* [http://forums.rleague.com/showthread.php?t=26772 Collection of writings on Paul Bowman]