Northern Pride in no rush to name Bowen’s sucessor as captain

Northern Pride coach Ty Williams says he is in no rush to name a new captain after first-choice skipper Javid Bowen signed a one-year deal with the North Queensland Cowboys.

Northern Pride coach Ty Williams says he is in no rush to name a new captain after first-choice skipper Javid Bowen signed a one-year deal with the North Queensland Cowboys.

Bowen joined the Pride at the end of 2019 and was named captain for the 2020 Intrust Super Cup campaign, but only managed to carry the ‘c’ next to his name for one game before the season was cancelled.

Williams confirmed Bowen would retain the captaincy duties for another year at the start of the pre-season, but is now on the hunt for a replacement after the classy strike weapon was handed an NRL lifeline by his former club.

Matt Egan, Jayden Hodges, Chris Ostwald, Josh Stuckey and Rod Griffin headline the list of possible candidates who could step up into the role.

NRL; North Queensland Cowboys pre-season training at Willows Sports Complex. Javid Bowen. Picture: Alix Sweeney

“That’s something I’ve got to discuss with my assistants because it’s all happened pretty quickly,” Williams said.

“We were always hopeful that it would happen and its a headache that we welcome with open arms, but over the next few days I’ll sit down with the assistants and we’ll see what our thought process is moving forward.

“We might toss a few around there in the trials and see how that goes.”

Williams said he was “stoked” for Bowen to get another opportunity at the top level.

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“As he said when he first came back, that was the whole goal, to try and get another contract, and he’s done that now,” he said.

“I think it probably typifies us as a club. Javid came home to play football here, worked pretty hard and Toddy (Cowboys coach Todd Payten) has given him another opportunity.

“Hopefully he takes it with both hands.”

Bowen will continue working in the Cowboys’ rehab unit as he makes his way back from shoulder surgery, and is expected to start the season with the Pride in the Intrust Super Cup.

NRL; North Queensland Cowboys pre-season training at Willows Sports Complex. Javid Bowen . Picture: Alix Sweeney

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“Hopefully we only get him for a couple of games just to give him some match fitness and then he gets that chance to play NRL again,” Williams said.

Bowen played 36 games for the Cowboys after making his NRL debut in 2016, but struggled to cement a spot in the starting backline during six seasons at the club.

He was one of six Cowboys to miss out on a contract extension under coach Paul Green at the end of the 2019 season.

Originally published as Northern Pride in no rush to name Bowen’s sucessor as captain