Emotional night for Bowen, Benji

Matt Bowen in action against the Sharks on the weekend. Source: Brett Costello / DailyTelegraph

THE stage is set for an emotional night in Townsville on Saturday with 13-season veteran Matt Bowen playing his final home game in North Queensland colours and rugby convert Benji Marshall ending his sometimes tumultuous time at Wests Tigers.

One way or another it's a game that looks set to end in tears - but Cowboys coach Neil Henry is hoping they will be of joy for Cowboys fans as North Queensland look to seal an unlikely finals berth.

"It's a massive game as far as the club is concerned but I am sure Matthew's focus is on the team result rather than his individual night,'' Henry said.

"It is a celebration ... of a one-team man who is synonymous with north Queensland.

"He's a small man in a big man's game. There's a lot of courage and bravery there in that position but also to come back from the setbacks of the double operation to his knee.

"He has proved that through hard work in conjunction with our medical team he could come back and play good footy.''

The Cowboys can pull off what seemed an improbable top eight finish with victory - a result that will no doubt prompt blushes from board members who decided Henry's services would not be required at season's end just five weeks ago.

While Henry said the night would toast Bowen, who is yet to decide whether he will play one more year in England, they hoped to also be popping champagne over a finals berth with their sixth straight win.

"It (Bowen's milestone) can be an added incentive,'' Henry said of the 31-year-old, who last week was told by North Queensland his contract would not be renewed.

"And we are a bit emotional at the moment in the way that we have had to win games (to stay alive in the finals race).

"But you need to focus and not think too far ahead.''

Henry knows the Wests Tigers want to send out Marshall a winner after 10 years in the black and gold - especially after seeing the Tigers jump to a big lead against ladder leaders South Sydney last round only to lose.

"It's a dangerous game for us,'' Henry said.

"They showed what they could do last week.

"And there's no next week for them. I am sure their young squad will be out to back up Benji in his last game in Tigers colours.''

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Emotional night for Bowen, Benji

Dengan url

http://ikhlasngeblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/emotional-night-for-bowen-benji.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Emotional night for Bowen, Benji

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Emotional night for Bowen, Benji

sebagai sumbernya