Roll up, roll up, roll up.
Rugby league could adopt the famous circus cry to promote the looming clash of two of its most exciting entertainers – Matt Bowen (North Queensland) and Ben Barba (Canterbury) – under the ANZ Stadium’s big top on Saturday night.
Two of the smallest men in the NRL have been creating the biggest buzz with their breathtaking runs and incredible try scoring feats which have grabbed the imagination of rugby league fans of all persuasions.
Comparing the season stats of bantamweight No.1s who’ve played all 18 games and all 1440 minutes of the 2012 season – is almost like looking into a mirror.
“The only difference I can see is the little bald patch appearing on Matty’s head,” joked former Canberra, Queensland and Australian fullback Gary Belcher who loves watching them play.
Belcher said it was a credit to both fullbacks that they had addressed flaws in their defensive games and were in magical attacking form for their respective clubs.
“Benny has got this great knack of stealing the footy one-on-one and he’s making a lot more try saves, that was his Achilles heel,” Belcher told AAP.
“Matty addressed that issue a few years ago and he’s so much better in using his wonderful speed. He’s not so easy to beat as he was in his early days.”
A two-time premiership winner with Canberra who also played 16 State of Origins for Queensland and 15 Tests for Australia, Belcher said Bowen and Barba were “up there” with Melbourne’s Billy Slater as the best fullbacks in the game.
“Billy at his best is still the best that I’ve seen but they’re right up there with him, certainly as entertainers,” he said.
“They’re the type of players fans want to go and watch.
“Matty is a crowd favourite even ahead of the likes of Johnathan Thurston.”
Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston loves having Bowen on his side.
“I’m just glad Matty Bowen is in our side and does what he does,” Thurston said.
Bulldogs skipper Michael Ennis feels the same way about Barba who in the past month has emerged as favourite to win the prestigious Dally M Medal as the game’s best player.
It’s an irresistible clash for any rugby league fan with both fullbacks playing at the peak of their powers.
