Brenton’s Deadly Choice: Eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise.
Former Cowboys and Titans player Brenton Bowen is a welcome addition to the star-studded line-up of Deadly Choices Ambassadors.
Having featured in 50 NRL appearances throughout his career, Bowen hails from the small 1500-strong community of Hopevale, near Cairns.
His big break came after representing Queensland Schoolboys, with the Cowboys placing him on scholarship until after he had finished his schooling.
Brenton signed his first Cowboys contract in 2001 and in 2003 secured one of the highlights of his career, debuting against Manly in round two of competition, playing alongside cousin, Matt Bowen.
“I had a goal that I wanted to reach in my football and kept focussing on that. It meant I had to make sacrifices to reach the top, but when you want something bad enough that’s what you do,” said Bowen.
2005 was a huge year for the Cowboys as they secured a maiden Grand Final appearance, with Brenton featuring in 10 games and scoring five tries.
Two years later, Bowen completed a breakout season with North Queensland, providing an opportunity to move south to the Gold Coast where he spent the next season at the Titans.
Since retiring, Bowen has spent the best part of a decade working in a number of public service roles within remote communities in and around Cairns.
“I’m a big believer that things always happen for a reason and when I was asked to come on board with Deadly Choices I saw it as a great opportunity and one in which I would regret if I didn’t take.
“My own role models growing up included players from the Brisbane Broncos; Darren Lockyer, Steve Renouf and Wendell Sailor, then when the Cowboys entered the competition I was a big Scotty Prince fan.
“My own Deadly Choice is eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise. Also, I never took up smoking and that’s something I’m extremely proud of.”
Favourite healthy meal: Acai bowl.
Favourite exercise: Going for a bike ride with the family.
Follow Brenton
Instagram: brenton.bowen