MATT Bowen is one of rugby league's greatest ambassadors but Wigan fans took just one game to declare him a dud, labeling him "Fatty Bowen".
The unfortunate nickname for the legendary fullback came
after reigning Super League champions Wigan were trounced by 24-8 by Huddersfield.
It was a shock loss for the league-mad region and as the big-name import to replace Test star Sam Tomkins, Bowen was always going to wear the brunt of it.
One of the nicest men in rugby league probably never imagined it would be this harsh as fans tore into his appearance in the first round of the premiership.
At one point during the match, "Fatty Bowen" was trending as fans attacked him for indulging in Wigan's notoriously delicious pies.
Here is just some of the verbal abuse he was the subject of on social media :
"What I've learned from start of Super League 19… Nobody's worried about Fatty Bowen apart from his dietician".
"Fatty Bowen should be off the field ! Embarrassing ! "No new tricks, no Sam Tomkins and fatty Bowen !#longseasonahead".
"Matty Bowen immersing himself in the Wigan culture of pies I see #fatty".
To make matters worse, an hour into the fullback's debut for Wigan, the 31-year-old was put on report after he took out opposite number Scott Grix without the ball.
Even a one-week ban would rule him out of the World Club Challenge against the Sydney Roosters later this month.
While Bowen was finding out how passionate Super League fans are, his teammates at North Queensland were flexing their muscles against the Brisbane Broncos.
The Cowboys won their first trial of the year convincingly, with Bowen's replacement Lachlan Coote impressive.
It is obvious Coote will not be playing the second five-eighth role Bowen perfected.
Coach Paul Green said Coote was brought to Townsville to play his own game, which is based around support through ruck and attacking kick-returns.
"Lachlan Coote and Matt Bowen are two different players so it is fraught with danger if we bring a player up here and try to make him Matt Bowen, ” Green said.
"It is important for Lachlan to not feel he has to be Matt Bowen. We signed Lachlan for what he can do."
The trial did not shed much light on who will be the Cowboys hooker, with no clear front runner between all four options.
Green is fortunate enough to be able to choose between Anthony Mitchell, Cameron King, Ray Thompson and Rory Kostjasyn.
"There is healthy competition for a few spots. I will use all the trials to find that out, ” Green said.
"Kingy has fitted in well and the beauty of Rory is he can do all that and do it well and you need those guys in your team."
Chris Garry
The Courier-Mail
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/wigan-fans-turn-on-matt-bowen-after-a-thumping-loss-in-his-first-game-in-english-super-league/story-fni3fbgz-1226821937228
