Bowman out
By ADAM GARDINI in Sydney
31mar06
NORTH Queensland's backline faces a true test of depth at Parramatta Stadium tonight after Queensland centre Paul Bowman was yesterday ruled out of the Cowboys' clash against the Eels.
Seasoned veteran Paul Bowman yesterday joined fellow centre Ty Williams (broken leg) in the Cowboys' casualty ward after succumbing to a calf injury suffered in last Saturday night's 40-8 win over Melbourne.
But the Cowboys were handed a game-eve boost with hooker David Faiumu declared fit to make an early return from a groin injury after it was initially thought he would be another week away from taking the field.
Bowman trained lightly with the side in Townsville on Wednesday but was ruled out before the Cowboys departed for Sydney yesterday morning.
Murray said either utilities Justin Smith or Rod Jensen would slot into Bowman's left centre spot, with Smith thought to be the likely choice.
Bowman's replacement - along with recalled centre Josh Hannay - both face tough tasks against the Eels with the home side tipped to be boosted by the inclusion of New South Wales representative Timana Tahu.
Tahu's possible inclusion in the centres would complement the Eels' other strike centre Ben Smith, who has scored two tries in three matches this season.
Cowboys coach Graham Murray said the loss of Bowman and Williams would provide a good test of the club's stocks in the backline.
"We talk about our depth and how good it is so we've lost our first pick centres and the other guys will get an opportunity," he said.
Faiumu, who is hoping to retain his spot in the New Zealand side ahead of the upcoming Test against Australia on May 5, said he was eager to return to the fray after missing two weeks with the injury.
"It was a little niggly thing that I didn't need and it's good that it's healed up," Faiumu said.
"I hadn't thought too much about that (Anzac Test), I was just a bit disappointed to miss the Cowboys games for the last two weeks.
"I got the all clear from the doc and the physio and it feels good to me."
The Cowboys are set to aim plenty of traffic at Eels halves Tim Smith and John Morris tonight -- a tactic used effectively by Brisbane last week with Smith struggling to defend with a shoulder injury.
"The halves get targeted because you don't want them to have too much energy when they get the ball -- Tim Smith and John Morris won't be any different," Murray said. "We'll just play a normal game plan and make them make some tackles."
But Murray warned that Smith could just as easily hurt the Cowboys in attack as he did when the teams last met at Parramatta Stadium when the Eels romped home 50-12.
"He didn't have the happiest game in the semi-final (against the Cowboys) last year but I do know that he got rookie of the year so he must have had a fair few good games and one of them was when they beat us by 50 here when everything he touched turned to gold," Murray said.
"So a young bloke with a bit of confidence can go well, he wasn't that confident the last time we played them in the semi, but who knows? He might be a lot better on Friday night."
COWBOYS LIKELY SIDE: Matt Bowen, Neil Sweeney, Josh Hannay, Justin Smith, Matt Sing, Johnathan Thurston (vc), Brett Firman, Shane Tronc, David Faiumu, Mitchell Sargent, Steve Southern, Luke O'Donnell, Travis Norton (c). Interchange: Rod Jensen, Matthew Scott, Carl Webb, Gavin Cooper, Clint Amos. (one to be omitted).
http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,18661249%5E14793,00.html
