Thurston "shocked" by Bowen omission
October 01, 2007 JONATHAN Thurston wondered what his North Queensland teammate Matt Bowen had to do to earn Australia selection after Manly's Brett Stewart was handed the vacant Test No.1 jersey.
The incumbent Test halfback said he was "hurting" for Bowen after the reigning Fullback of the Year failed to even earn a bench spot for Australia's one-off Test against New Zealand at Wellington on October 14.
Bowen was in career-best form as he combined with Thurston to guide the injury-ravaged Cowboys to within one win of a second grand final appearance in three years.
He was in a three-way race with Stewart and classy Melbourne custodian Billy Slater for the Test fullback role left vacant by an injured Karmichael Hunt of Brisbane.
However, Stewart got the nod despite a disappointing performance in Manly's 34-8 NRL grand final loss to Melbourne on Sunday night.
He was well held by Melbourne in the first half before being taken from the field with concussion early in the second.
"I was pretty shocked. After the season he has had, I thought his chances were fairly high – he's produced all season," Thurston said of Bowen.
"What else has he got to do? I really don't know.
"I'm hurting for him. I'm sure it hurts him as well."
Bowen won the Dally M Fullback of the Year award. He finished the season with a league-leading 22 tries and led the NRL in line breaks with 32 – eight ahead of nearest rival, none other than Stewart.
"There's a few surprises in the (Test) team. But look, I still want them to win, I still think they should do well," Thurston said.
Of Melbourne No.7 Cooper Cronk being handed his Test halfback jersey, Thurston said: "I didn't have mixed emotions, I wasn't considered because of the (shoulder) surgery.
"He (Cronk) has got Smithy (hooker and captain Cameron Smith) there to help him, he should go well."
Thurston's right shoulder underwent surgery after the Cowboys were downed in the preliminary final by Manly and his left will go under the knife in three weeks.
He was hopeful he would not miss the 2008 season start.
"I was a little nervous but the surgery went well. I will be doing everything I can to get out there for the kick-off," he said.
Meanwhile, Bowen's manager Wayne Beavis will visit Townsville at the end of the month for a second round of contract talks after negotiations with North Queensland chief executive Peter Parr began recently in Sydney.
Bowen is off contract at the end of 2008 and speculation has linked him to everyone from rival NRL teams to overseas rugby clubs.
"He's got another 12 months to run on his contract, I don't know what all the urgency is about," Beavis said.
"The Cowboys are the first port of call, put it that way. But it depends on what they come up with.
"We are in no screaming hurry to do anything. I am sure he won't end up homeless."
Of Bowen's Test snub, Beavis said: "I'm very disappointed. It's a bitter pill to take.
"I've spoken to him and he's naturally disappointed but life goes on.
"He's a terrific kid, one of nature's gentlemen."
In other news, Gold Coast Titans boss Michael Searle felt for halfback Scott Prince and back rower Anthony Laffranchi missing out on Test selection.
"They are bitterly unlucky. We've probably got two guys who we think are Australian class and missed out but that's the rub of the green," he said.
AAP
