MATTY Bowen will fly with the Townsville Blackhawks for the rest of this year’s Intrust Super Cup after his impressive comeback game in Sunday’s 29-20 loss to Easts Tigers.

The Cowboys’ cult hero and 270-game NRL legend played his first 80-minute game since last year’s English Super League grand final, and some of his touches came straight from the glory days, with three of his well-timed passes resulting in four-pointers.

Fit as a fiddle and with a love of rugby league still burning in his belly, Bowen says he will play for the Blackhawks whenever he can after gaining his Queensland Rugby League registration on Saturday.

But the Hope Vale product was quick to insist he does not want to disrupt the Blackhawks’ status quo.

“I’m not here to push people out of their positions,” Bowen said.

“If I’m needed to play in any position that’s where I’ll play.

“It was good to get back out there and play, and I’ve been enjoying my time at the Blackhawks.

“Watching the Cowboys play and the Blackhawks play, it makes you want to play.

“I really did enjoy having time-off and relaxing with the family, but as they say you’re a long time retired.”

Bowen had been training with the Blackhawks for about two weeks and giving tips to the club’s outside backs.

He lined up for the Blackhawks yesterday alongside former Cowboys’ teammates Glenn Hall and Anthony Mitchell, and filled the shoes of Cowboys-allocated fullback Jahrome Hughes, who received an NRL call-up.

“I did a few things to make sure I had my fitness, like playing a bit of touch with friends and things like that, but in saying that I’ve got to be better,” Bowen said, who works at the Cowboys as a community engagement officer.

Blackhawks’ coach Kristian Woolf said recruiting Bowen was a huge boon for the Blackhawks and local rugby league.

“It’s outstanding for us and Townsville rugby league that someone of his standing doesn’t want to give it away,” Woolf said.

“We’ve just got to figure out where and when he can play and he probably won’t play every game, but we’ll certainly fit him in whenever we can.”