'Made a tackle, made a run, and realised I didn’t have my mouthguard in’

Dear Queenslanders,

What does being a Queenslander mean for me?

I think growing up, that’s all we knew. Watching Queensland play on TV and you know, for weeks after that, you’d run around, kicking the footy, pretending you’re Alfie Langer.

You know, back then, it was Aflie Langer, Adrian Lamb, Steve Renouf.

Obviously to have the opportunity to do that, coming from a small community, Hopevale, to represent Queensland, was something special that I always wanted to do.

I think when I get my first call up, the Cowboys had the bye that weekend. I was away. Parry gave me the phone call and told me to come in.

I didn’t know what to believe. I think I just sat there in my chair and he said ‘Wanye Bennett wants you in his team for the second State of Origin’.

I was gobsmacked. I just sat there and he said ‘yeah it’s for real’. So yeah, I still remember that day like it was yesterday.

My first phone call then was mum and dad, telling them the news. They were excited as well. But yeah, I enjoyed every moment of it.

I only played 10 games but I enjoyed everything.

Matty Bowen FOG #138

Obviously growing up in Hopevale, we didn’t have a team sport when I was younger. Just watched it on TV.

It wasn’t the Cowboys back then, it was the Broncos and I used to love the Roosters, but it was Broncos.

Then Origin time would come around and it wasn’t until I went to high school I started playing in a team sport. I was 12, 13. But I had four older brothers and one sister and they all played rugby league. I just wanted to be like them and play rugby league.

Yeah, I grew to love the sport.

I played touch as well but when I turned 15 I got put on a scholarship with the Cowboys and I’ve been training ever since then.

You know, I since debuted for the Cowboys and put on that Maroons jersey.

Running out for the first time for the Maroons, I keep telling people now, I forgot I had my mouthguard in my socks.

That’s how excited I was. I  think it was down in New South Wales. Just to hear the boos from the Blues supporters, running out with the Maroons jersey on your back, for the first time. It was something special.

I still get goosebumps when I watch it and talk about Origin.

Like I said, I made a tackle, made a run, and realised I didn’t have my mouthguard in. That’s how excited I was.

But it was just like a normal game and I enjoyed it.

Running out at Suncorp Stadium, I don’t know, it’s something different again. Something I will always miss.

But the biggest highlight for me was scoring that intercept try in over time at home in front of all those Queensland supporters. It was something special.

Every year when Origin comes around, I always get asked about that try everywhere I go.

Growing up playing in the backyard, that’s the moments you dream about… scoring for Queensland in Queensland in front of family. That’s a moment I won’t forget.

You know, you sort of can’t explain the amount of support that you do get when you’re wearing maroon.

Not just on game nights, but leading up to it.

You spend the week with the boys and you have all the greats come in and talk about their experiences and just to run out in front of your fans, to run out in front of you Queensland fans in general, it is something special, you know.

It’s unbelievable.

Queenslanders. You’re just more passionate about rugby league and not just winning, but just the game in general. It is something special.

Obviously growing up, watching guys like Gorden Tallis, Shane Webcke, Petero Civoniceva, Darren Lockyer. To play my first Origin game alongside those guys, just to be in camp with them, was something special for me.

Just to do that, with that bunch of boys, was something special and something I won’t forget.

I got my nickname Mango from my first Origin camp. Benny Ikin and Gordy Tallis started calling me mango and was wondering ‘what are they calling my mango for?’

Obviously, Matty Bowen, and Bowen is known for growing mangoes, and that has stuck ever since. So yeah. I can thank those boys for that, thank Origin for that.

It doesn’t matter what part of north Queensland you are from… it’s all about rugby league. Everyone is born with a footy.

My young fella now, he’s been playing since he was six, but I think of  the passion we have for it. Speaking for Queensland fans, the passion we have for rugby league is something special.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself that I’m part of the Queensland story.

Every time an Origin comes up, someone will mention my name somewhere.

Just to be part of it, it is, as I said, I don’t really have the words.

To play Origin, I keep mentioning, when the games come around, it’s something I really am grateful for, for being part of it.

My son MJ is eight this year. He plays, he loves it. I think he’s a bit better than I was growing up. He loves rugby league and hopefully one day he’ll kick on. I coached him last year and one of his teammates came up and said ‘you’re a good player’. I didn’t know what he was talking about. He said ‘you’re a good player. My dad showed me YouTube and you’re a good player’.

I think all the kids I coach, their parents know who I am. MJ, he loves it. I’m sure if he stays passionate about it, he’ll enjoy it always as well.

Queenslanders, keep supporting. We love your support.

I think, you know, win or lose, we have the support of Queenslanders. Of you.

Whether you support the Broncos, or the Cowboys or the Titans, you know, when the Maroons jersey goes on, you’re all one.

Thank you.

I think, obviously we’ve had a big turnover phase over the last couple of years with Johno, Billy and Cam, and whatnot, but the boys coming through now are getting a taste of Origin footy and no doubt we will get back to that sort of status.

I am very grateful to be able to get the opportunity to coach some of the guys coming through now, 16, 17, 18 year olds.

To see them improve over the pre-season and during the year. Hopefully one day they will be playing Origin and I can say I’ve had something to do with their footy.

There’s a whole heap of talent up this way, guys who love rugby league, and hopefully one day they can put a Queensland jersey on as well.

Just think not last year, but the year before, David Fifita was playing in the Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup. Then literally a year later playing Origin.

The amount of talent that’s around in Queensland, it’s unbelievable.

No doubt, for those who put their mind to it, anything can happen.

Always a Queenslander. Always a Queensland supporter. Go the Maroons.

Thanks Queenslanders,

Matty Bowen

FOG #138