Big ambitions as Bulldog Bowen lives out Belmore dream

CAMDEN HAVEN product Angus Bowen is still riding high after signing an NRL Development Pathways contract with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in July.

Having been a standout performer in the Northern Bulldogs Andrew Johns Cup team, Bowen, 16, has big ambitions as he steps into the elite environment at Belmore.

He said he was “pretty happy and pretty psyched” to sign the development contract.

“In the short term my goal is to make it into the Harold Matthews Cup (for under-17 players) team for the Canterbury Bulldogs,” Bowen told NOTA.

“Longer term I just want to keep playing footy, hopefully professionally.”

Bowen’s sporting journey began playing soccer in under-6s with the Camden Haven Redbacks, before transitioning to rugby league several years later.

“When I was going into Under 10s I decided to make the switch to rugby league with Lake Cathie Bonny Hills Raiders, after all my friends convinced me to start playing.”

A rapid rise through the grades followed.

“I was in Group 3 development teams since Under 13s and I also participated in the Group 3 Rise program,” he said.

“Ất Camden Haven High School I have been in their Targeted Sports Program for rugby league and played many games for the school’s team over my last five years there.

“Most recently I was a part of the University Shield Opens team that made it into the final 16 in the state.”

Bowen’s mum and dad, Olivia and Tom, are confident their son can compete with the best at the elite level, but acknowledge an adjustment to the city will take time.

“We are excited for Angus and the opportunities that it will bring for him whilst being a little nervous about our boy moving away,” they told NOTA.

“He’s only ever been a coastal boy so the city will be a very different life for him, but we are sure he is up to the challenge as he is a very confident and resilient young man.”