North Queensland Toyota Cowboys games record holder and crowd favourite Matthew Bowen will make his swansong appearance for the club after being named in the club’s team to contest the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines next weekend.
Bowen, 33, retired from the National Rugby League at the end of the 2013 season having played 270 games for the Cowboys.
He went on to play for Wigan for two seasons in the English Super League, helping the team to consecutive grand finals.
He returned with his family to North Queensland this month and has taken up a role at the club as a community engagement officer.
Bowen said he was thrilled to get the chance to be able to run around in his old team colours.
"Johnno (Johnathan Thurston) and a few of the other boys were texting me when I was over in England asking me if I would be keen to play," Bowen said.
"And I always said that if 'Greeny' (head coach Paul Green) asked me, I would.
"My first day back at the club, he asked me to play in the Nines, and I jumped at the opportunity."
