Perth target Origin super-sub
By Jon Geddes
April 21, 2005
QUEENSLAND Origin super-sub Matt Bowen may become the first high-profile rugby league recruit to switch codes and link with new Super 14 franchise Western Force in Perth.
Force chief executive Peter O'Meara last night confirmed interest in Tri-Nations tourist Bowen, who is off contract with North Queensland Cowboys at the end of this season.
Mystery surrounds who made the initial approach about the Cowboys star shifting to Western Australia, with O'Mara suggesting a player manager contacted him.
But Bowen's manager Wayne Beavis last night denied any contact with the Force.
"Look, [Bowen's] name has been broadly spoken about. Usually the fullbacks and wingers can convert quickly," O'Meara said.
"Some league scouts have touted his name with us -- you know how player managers sort of hound you. So his name has been mentioned."
Force coach John Mitchell last night confirmed he has had a keen eye on Bowen since the NRL season started in March, but said Perth had yet to make a formal approach.
"He's somebody that I've admired in the game over the last couple of years so I think he'd make a really good transition," Mitchell said.
"Even before I was in this job I've always kept an eye on him. He's someone I really enjoy watching.
"We're around people who are available but there's been no major contact to date."
An elusive player such as Bowen could command upwards of $250,000 on the NRL's open market after the June 30 deadline -- an offer the Force would need to beat to lure him into a code switch.
O'Meara confirmed the Perth franchise are also looking at two other NRL players, understood to be Wests Tigers winger Pat Richards and Parramatta's Matt Petersen.
Tigers flyer Richards, one of the joint venture's most consistent players this season, previously attracted interest from the ACT Brumbies when he was off contract in 2002.
Canberra's Clinton Schifcofske was another league player on the Force's inquiry list until last Friday, when he re-signed with the Raiders for another three seasons.
"There are a couple [of league players] that we've got our eye on," O'Meara said.
"They're not super-dooper names, they're more boys that have made the transition and decided it's not for them maybe."
Eels winger Petersen grew up in Perth and was a junior with the Reds before moving to Townsville to link with the Cowboys and then joining Parramatta.
Petersen's manager David Riolo last night confirmed the Eels player's interest in making the switch.
"Matt was bought up in Perth. He has property over there and family over there so it would be an option worth considering," Riolo said.
