It must send chills down Brisbane’s spine – livewire fullback Matt Bowen admits even he doesn’t know what will happen next when he combines with North Queensland teammate Johnathan Thurston.
The Broncos have made no secret of the fact they fear the uncanny Thurston-Bowen understanding could be their undoing in Saturday night’s NRL elimination final in Townsville.
But it seems Brisbane will need to re-think any plans to counter the dynamic duo after Bowen revealed he had no idea what to expect when pivot Thurston had the ball in his hands.
“None of it is a set play, mate,” Bowen laughed when asked about their matchwinning tactics.
“It is all instinctive. Whatever we do in games or at training – none of it is planned.
“I don’t know how to explain it.
“I reckon even Johnno doesn’t know what will happen next but that makes it fun.
“It has worked for the last seven years and hopefully it can keep going.”
Indeed Bowen, 30, is showing no signs of slowing down as he reaches a milestone even he would have thought impossible not so long ago – notching NRL game No.250.
Despite his career being at a crossroads three years ago after a second knee reconstruction, the diminutive No.1 has enjoyed one of his best seasons since a skinny 19-year-old Bowen ran out for his 2002 NRL debut.
An 18th man for the Queensland Origin side this year and runner-up to Dally M Medal winner Ben Barba, Bowen admitted he was pinching himself ahead of the Cowboys’ title tilt.
“Growing up you always wanted to play one first grade game – 250 games later it is obviously a big achievement and I have a lot of people to thank for that,” he said.
“There were the long hours of rehab with (ex-Cowboys fitness guru) Billy Johnstone.
“That helped see me through a dark, dark road. But I see the light at the end of the tunnel now.”
Those dark days must seem like an eternity ago for Bowen who is “playing like a 17-year-old”, according to Broncos centre Jack Reed.
Yet retiring hooker Aaron Payne reckoned he couldn’t tell the difference.
Asked if he had seen Bowen and Thurston click better than this season, Payne said: “Yep, every week at training.
“They are always playing well to me. It is no fluke or coincidence – nothing surprises me with those two.
“I guess I have the best seat in the house.”
Payne has been lauded by the Cowboys in his final year, but the tireless rake did his best to make the elimination final all about Bowen and his milestone.
“For someone of his size it is amazing the punishment he has copped,” said Payne, who along with Bowen are the only Cowboys survivors from their last finals win over Brisbane in 2004.
“And coming back from some serious surgery, I can’t give my roommate a big enough rap.”
