The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys have taken a giant step towards building for the future with the re-signing of Javid Bowen and Sam Hoare.
Products of the club’s Elite Pathways program, utility back Bowen and prop Hoare have both agreed to two-year extensions at the club, keeping them in Cowboys colours until the end of the 2018 National Rugby League season.
Both young men have progressed through the club’s under-20s team playing in the National Youth Competition.
They have also played extensively in the Intrust Super Cup, and have made their NRL debuts after following that development pathway.
“We’re really proud of our pathways program and that these two players have progressed through the ranks to the NRL, and now their re-signings give us a really strong platform for the future,” Cowboys General Manager – Football Peter Parr said.
“Having this very strong, very clear path from identifying talent at the junior level, to the under-20s, then the Q-Cup and on to the NRL is a crucial part of our recruitment and development strategy.
“We’re thrilled Javid and Sam have agreed to remain Cowboys. Both players have made their Cowboys NRL debuts over the past two years and we look forward to great things from them into the future.”
Utility back Bowen, 23, has been in the full-time Cowboys squad since the start of the 2014 season, and made his NRL debut this year in the team’s Round 5 win over the Dragons, scoring a try.
He has gone on to play six games this year, and has scored four tries playing at either centre or wing.
After progressing through the Cowboys’ under-20s ranks, the Hope Vale product has enjoyed two successful seasons playing for the Northern Pride in the Intrust Super Cup, helping his team win the premiership in 2014.
Rockhampton product Hoare, 24, has been a worthy front-row backup to representative players Matt Scott and James Tamou and has 14 NRL games for the Cowboys under his belt, including being the starting prop in the club’s famous 8-0 win over Wests Tigers in Round 11 last year.
He made his NRL debut in Round 17, 2014 against the Dragons and was a key member of the Mackay Cutters’ 2013 premiership-winning Intrust Super Cup team, alongside current first-grade regulars Michael Morgan and Jason Taumalolo.
