Indigenous Sport Month: Cowboys legend Matt Bowen opens up about helping kids in remote areas

Matty Bowen spends about 30 hours behind the wheel travelling around remote Australia. And the former Cowboys champ says it’s all about one thing – inspiring change.

Matthew Bowen doesn’t say much.

On the field, the dynamic fullback let his actions do the talking.

He wasn’t a big fan of words, and he didn’t need to be.

It has been the same after the man known as Mango left the NRL.

A proud Indigenous man of the Guugu Yimithirr people in Far North Queensland, Bowen has never been overly outspoken and has yet to be the face of the NRL’s annual Indigenous celebrations.

He appreciates the concept, he appreciates the recognition, but for Bowen, talk is cheap.

Instead, much like he did on the field for the Cowboys and Queensland, he would rather make a difference with his actions.

It is why the 270-game NRL veteran and Cowboys life member was quick to take up a job with the club in their community team after leaving the field.

Matthew Bowen in action for the Cowboys.

Bowen now travels to some of North Queensland’s most remote Indigenous communities each week to deliver messages of positivity and help close the gap in both health and education.

He spends about 30 hours behind the wheel most weeks driving to these remote locations, but the moment he arrives and sees the smiles on the faces of all the kids, it makes every last second worth it.

“I love putting smiles on the kids’ faces,” Bowen said.

“It is amazing. It is something I love doing, it is the part I love about my job. I can go out and play games with them, and brighten up their day.

“It definitely makes (all the hours) worthwhile.

“We go out to Mount Isa, we go to Aurukun, up to Doomadgee and all the way up to Weipa. We have a fair bit of distance to cover, but it is a job that I love doing and it makes it easy to get up in the morning.”

Bowen believes the connection the Indigenous community has with sport is almost genetic.

“You meet any kid and give them any shape of ball they can throw it a distance or kick it a distance,” he said.

Bowen stepped between the ropes earlier this year as part of the NRL All Stars Boxing event in Townsville. Picture: Evan Morgan

“You go to any community and give them any shape of ball, they seem to be able to make magic with it.”

But it is the NRL Steeden that has captured their imagination, and their proud Indigenous heroes who lace up the boots week in and week out.

Bowen was once the favourite of those Indigenous icons.

He took the mantle as the game’s greatest Indigenous player from the likes of Preston Campbell and David Peachey before then handing it on to teammate Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis.

Now it belongs to excitement machines Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr.

Bowen believes they all have a part to play, through their influence as NRL players, to teach lessons. To make a difference. To close the gap.

Bowen himself grew up in the Indigenous community of Hope Vale, just north of Cooktown on the cape.

Education was a big part of his upbringing, and eventually he went to boarding school at Abergowrie where he was spotted playing in a school football tournament and handed an opportunity with the Cowboys.

Cowboys legend Matt Bowen with the kids from Doomadgee State School.

It is the reason why Bowen is so determined to make sure kids in remote communities keep turning up to school each day.

“It is funny, as a player it is a double edged sword being so looked up to, because everything is so heavily scrutinised,” he said.

“But now it is a positive. I think being a player they look up to, whatever we do, they do. Whatever we tell them, they take it on board.

Cowboys Indigenous players Scott Drinkwater and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow starred during the team’s Indigenous Round win over the Warriors. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

“Most of those kids have dreams to play on TV or play for the Broncos or Cowboys. If we can change (the mentality) for just one or two, I feel like we have done our job.

“We go to different communities and see kids and tell them where Plan B comes in. You obviously have to play well, but also eat healthy and stay in school, education is a big key. The more they do that, then it is an easier path for them to any sport.”

Bowen can remember being a kid himself and looking up to the exploits of Campbell who defied his stature to be one of the game’s best. He gets the same jolt of excitement when he watches young Indigenous leaders running around now, especially during the NRL’s proud Indigenous Round.

“The boys that are indigenous, the round means a lot to them, and no doubt myself as well,” he said. “The boys have all got their boots painted and have different jerseys that represent their people and different tribes.

“It is nice to see that we have been recognised. When you see guys like Hamiso (Tabuai-Fidow) and Daine Laurie for the Tigers, they grow another leg when they play this round.

“(Sport) means the world (to Indigenous kids), that is all we know. That is all we grew up watching, back in my day it was the Broncos and now it’s the Cowboys. Guys like Latrell and Josh Addo-Carr, when you go to any community they always idolise someone in the NRL.

“Even for myself growing, Preston Campbell was my idol I wanted to be like. No doubt now when you ask an NRL player, their favourite player would be an indigenous player.

“To be part of a team and part of the Indigenous round, it means something special to not just players but their family as well.”

Originally published as Indigenous Sport Month: Cowboys legend Matt Bowen opens up about helping kids in remote areas