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SHUTTING DOWN BOWEN A KEY TO VICTORY SAYS FARAH
By Wayne Cousins
15/07/2011 12:59:47 PM
Robbie Farah says shutting down dangerous North Queensland Cowboys full-back Matthew Bowen will go a long way towards securing victory at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Saturday night.
The Wests Tigers captain and hooker says the Cowboys boast plenty of experience in having representative players in the backs and forwards but admitted Bowen was their key man with half-back Johnathan Thurston injured.
The Cowboys showed in beating Newcastle away last Monday night that they are still a serious threat without Thurston.
“They have got a couple of very young capable halves and Matty Bowen at the back got his hands a lot more on the ball (against Newcastle) without Thurston being there,’’ Farah said.
“We saw him jumping up into the halves at times. I know that when I don’t have Benji (Marshall) there, or Benji doesn’t have me there, it becomes a lot easier to shut down that player.
“Bowen is going to be their major player and our major danger so the challenge there for us is to shut him down which will go a long way to winning the game for us.”
Farah said the players were confident of a much improved performance after a good week at training following their disappointing loss to Parramatta last Friday night.
“We have continued to work on the things that need improvement. Training wise, we have been great but obviously we haven’t been able to turn that into some good performances on the field,’’ he said.
“Last week, Benji didn’t train with the side until the day before the (Eels) game, so it does help when you get a bit of continuity at training with your key playmakers. We have had no disruptions at all this week. It has been a good week and hopefully that will mean a good performance tomorrow night.
“(Benji and I) understand and know the responsibility is on us to lead the side around and come up with the right decisions.
“We handle the ball more than anybody and if we are not coming up with the right plays, well then the team is going to suffer. We understand the importance of the decisions we make.”
Wests Tigers have lost prop Todd Payten for the match with Matt Groat and Mark Flanagan travelling with the team today. A final decision on who will replace Payten will be made tomorrow.
By Wayne Cousins
15/07/2011 12:59:47 PM
Robbie Farah says shutting down dangerous North Queensland Cowboys full-back Matthew Bowen will go a long way towards securing victory at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Saturday night.
The Wests Tigers captain and hooker says the Cowboys boast plenty of experience in having representative players in the backs and forwards but admitted Bowen was their key man with half-back Johnathan Thurston injured.
The Cowboys showed in beating Newcastle away last Monday night that they are still a serious threat without Thurston.
“They have got a couple of very young capable halves and Matty Bowen at the back got his hands a lot more on the ball (against Newcastle) without Thurston being there,’’ Farah said.
“We saw him jumping up into the halves at times. I know that when I don’t have Benji (Marshall) there, or Benji doesn’t have me there, it becomes a lot easier to shut down that player.
“Bowen is going to be their major player and our major danger so the challenge there for us is to shut him down which will go a long way to winning the game for us.”
Farah said the players were confident of a much improved performance after a good week at training following their disappointing loss to Parramatta last Friday night.
“We have continued to work on the things that need improvement. Training wise, we have been great but obviously we haven’t been able to turn that into some good performances on the field,’’ he said.
“Last week, Benji didn’t train with the side until the day before the (Eels) game, so it does help when you get a bit of continuity at training with your key playmakers. We have had no disruptions at all this week. It has been a good week and hopefully that will mean a good performance tomorrow night.
“(Benji and I) understand and know the responsibility is on us to lead the side around and come up with the right decisions.
“We handle the ball more than anybody and if we are not coming up with the right plays, well then the team is going to suffer. We understand the importance of the decisions we make.”
Wests Tigers have lost prop Todd Payten for the match with Matt Groat and Mark Flanagan travelling with the team today. A final decision on who will replace Payten will be made tomorrow.
