As shock revelations have surfaced that Ben Mowen will leave Australia to ply his trade in the French Top 14 competition at the end of Super Rugby this year it’s worth reflecting on his unique impact on these shores.
When Ben Mowen was appointed as Wallabies captain instead of James Horwill I was happy with the decision but also wrote this about the wider picture:
“Once the state of flux around the Wallabies culture, style and personnel is resolved will Mowen still be the captain of this team? Probably not.”
It may be the case that Ben Mowen understood the long-term situation for his rugby career in Wallabies gold as well, given that his decision to leave the game here came after his two best years as a player, leader and representative.
Mowen spoke to Fairfax Media’s Chris Dutton about his decision to leave and one of the main ones that stood out was a chance to put his family first.
And I’m not doubting that being the biggest factor in him leaving – that is an admirable decision.
However, he also said, “It’s the hardest decision of my career and I flipped 100 different ways trying to figure out which way I was going to go.”
Some of that flipping would have included weighing up the future based on the past and understanding how he fitted into the big picture.
That picture begins with a rugby debut at 22 for the QLD Reds in 2006 but not getting another game – for a team going very poorly, mind you – until 2008 when he moved to Sydney and latched on at the Waratahs.
So far it’s a picture of fits and starts, and like he said; his family supported him through that period.
By 2008 Mowen is 24 years old, a time when long-career professionals start to get near their potential as a player, not move teams for minutes.
Mowen experienced moderate success at the Waratahs, playing 40 games over four years.
He wasn’t good enough to earn any Wallabies caps and wasn’t part of a winning team there either. He was around for the Waratahs down-swing after a more successful Ewen McKenzie era – remember, players like Dean Mumm were every gamers in those years (shudder).
Leaving the Waratahs because they decided to sign a well, well past his best Rocky Elsom in place of you couldn’t be a great feeling, but it was one Mowen had to deal with.
This led to signing on with the Brumbies, his third team, where South African Jake White would be his coach.
Already the career of Mowen looks quite unique – not many players get signed to their third team by 28; or play under a South African World Cup winner in an Aussie Super Rugby team; or get named as captain of that team before their first match there.
But this happened to Ben Mowen.
That first of his Brumbies side performed far above expectations, even according to those inside the playing group and staff. They were close to the play-offs and may well have secured one if it weren’t for some seriously bad injury luck.
Mowen had his best season as a rugby player by far in his first for the Brumbies and was the on-field embodiment of the coach in a turn-around season teams like the Force, Highlanders, Waratahs and Lions could only dream of.
That season was rewarded by the Wallabies’ coach pointing out his chicken legs.
Year two of his Brumbies reign was capped by him playing 123,000 minutes on the way to a Super Rugby finals appearance – just two years after the club was so messed up it was almost better off moving to Parramatta. An amazing achievement as captain.
The good form was finally rewarded with a Wallabies call-up where he played another 75,000 minutes and was made the captain there when Ewen McKenzie decided James Horwill wasn’t suited to that anymore.
What an astonishing rise for a player who had to move club twice before he was 28.
And McKenzie’s decision was obviously correct; the Wallabies culture was as big a problem as their on-field skills shortage and Mowen had literally just finished working with White to resurrect a Super Rugby club in a similar position.
I don’t know how if White knew just how suited Mowen was to that task, but for McKenzie it was like a dress rehearsal for stepping into Wallabies leadership and turning a poor Rugby Championship into a very promising Spring Tour.
After a hard first act, Mowen was the right man with just the right traits and drive to turn around two teams in three years.
That is a second act not even Martin Scorsese could have envisioned for a player who had one Super Rugby cap for his first three years in professional rugby.
Would Ben Mowen be the first choice player for any back-row Wallabies position in 2014 should all players become available? Probably not, when you consider Scott Higginbotham, David Pocock, Wycliffe Palu, Michael Hooper etc.
Mowen was the right man at the right time to do something he could do for Australian rugby that no one else could. I think he would have known that too.
In Mowen’s words, “But having family now, it makes me realise I have to put them first because for a long time they’ve been putting me first and it’s time to repay that.”
I won’t pretend to read his mind but my translation would look like this based on his career arc:
‘My family has supported me through hard early seasons. I’ve made promises, made my wife move, and brought a daughter into the world with a travelling performer as a father.
‘Life has been great at the Brumbies and I finally achieved my dream to play for my country. But I might have reached my peak here and now it’s time to repay the faith put in me.’
Too much of our sporting landscape mimics and expects an unending pathological pursuit of winning displayed by the Michael Jordans of this world.
It is a welcome addition to the narrative of sport to see a man love his family as much as his career – to reach the peak but still have the ability to think ahead and plan for his future.
So, good luck to you Ben. I hope you find a French team near the Riviera. Get a boat to use in the offseason and enjoy a fruitful third act to this remarkable career with your family by your side.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Is it really all about the Money ? i doubt it. As the Captain of the Wallabies endorsements and post playing career oppurtunities would be much better imo.
soapit
Guest
the vast minority. theres always a couple
mark the realist
Guest
Ben Mowen wont be the only one to go this year.Quite a few players are filthy how the Dublin situation was handled by the aru and legal action is being discussed by rupa
Jiggles
Roar Guru
All the best to him. Realistically he was filling a gap so he may as well go make hay while the sun shines. He goes out a Wallaby captain who is at the maximum of his earning potential. I like a self aware man.
Tah Man
Guest
Zero Gain at least you are consistent, A Mowen hater from start to finish. This is not a Mowen issue it is an ARU issue and the way contracts are being dealt with. It is a disgrace that the Australian Captain can't get a top up for 2 years yet a 3rd string hooker like Faianga gets $200K from the ARU. The alarm bells should be ringing at the ARU if the AFL make a play for Mogg as the ARU will not be able to compete. While the ARU continue to pay huge top ups to players who are continually injured there is little left for anyone else and the system has to change
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
I think Ben Mowen is making the right decision and should always be putting his wife and children first. What I am surprised to see is that no one is reviewing the ARU's performance. I was shocked to see that Ben Mowen, the Captain of the Wallabies, was on some bullshit ARU contract. In my opinion this is poor management to leave one of your best people vulnerable to going to the opposition. This I see is the bottom line and clearly not good enough. The trend for Australia losing its best players overseas continues, weakening Australian rugby. How does one bring more money into Australia rugby? The answer is lots of ways. The problem is again the ARU is run by corporate journeymen who lack the commercial enterprise to deliver the urgently needed financial outcomes to protect Rugby Union from international competitors. The lure of the Wallaby Jersey has good leverage, but more is needed - now. Let me make a prediction - the number of Wallabies leaving Australia after the World Cup in 2015 will be frightening and most damaging to Australian rugby.
AndyS
Guest
I don't know about a fortune when he is not receiving any sort of ARU top-up, but I'd agree he has certainly opened himself up to criticism. However, I would have said your point cuts more the other way - he is the incumbent Wallabies captain, yet the ARU feel that even as such he merits no top-up..? They presumably value the position, so the message is pretty clear both to him and the players he is supposed to lead as to how they value the man. In his position, I can't say I'd've reacted any differently; better to leave than be a lame duck leader.
Zero Gain
Guest
"Mowen should not be criticised", your joking, right? He has forsaken the Wallaby captaincy to go and play in France because he wants more money when he is being paid a fortune already. He is open to valid criticism whether you like it or not.
John
Guest
Thanks Elisha, I agree with the positive sentiments. Those that been critical of Ben's skills should be mindful that he has served his country very well. Two points I wish to add - both positive in my mind - I think provide a better picture. Ben captained the Australian U21 side at the 2005 World Championship in Argentina. They came second to South Africa. S he clearly had the talent and leadership skills, which he used to success. Remember the Lions match when Horwill chose the scrum instead the penalty with about 10 minutes to go. He turned to Ben looking for validation of the decision. Enough said - that's the regard his teammates held him in. Secondly, in 2012, David Dennis was chosen ahead of Ben and played a series of Tests that year. Ben was told to make some changes, which he did, and was rewarded with national selection in 2013. How different things might be had Ben been selected in 2012. Good luck to him. If he accepts that Pocock, Higgers, Palu, Hooper and Fardy (remember him?) are ahead of him and if fit he likely warms a bench then he is simply staying ahead of the game - isn't that what a good captain should do? I don't know what sort of education he has, or what non-sports skills he can offer the commercial world, but there is NOTHING wrong with what he is doing.
sheek
Roar Guru
Thanks Max & all the best to your family.
Max Mowen
Guest
Sheek, thanks for the kind words on the family. One of the great joys of life when we were young and innocent was playing touch football on sand and tackle in the water at Ela Beach. Just great times!! Ben has made a decision for his family and while I am gutted that I won't see him running around for the WBs especially as Captain he is not a guy that would not have thought this through thoroughly and discussed with his family. He is a deep thinker and leader and I think this is what Jake White and Ewan recognised and does set him apart from others and it is obvious that players respond to this type of leadership. All the best and I enjoy your comments and posts on the Roar.
Train Without A Station
Guest
To say he is the worst player to captain Aus is unfair on him. He may be mediocre at international level, but I thought as a player his returns were better than rocky elsom's when rocky captained.
Train Without A Station
Guest
I say that because they have all been better super rugby players. He happened to be fit in the right place at the right time this year. Unlike some others at times, he did make the most of it. At no time has anybody ever seriously discussed how much of an off field loss he would be. On the other hand, how difficult it would be for him to start in a fully fit back row has been discussed plenty. There was already plenty of talk regarding his lack of physicality and penetrative running. Before you cite his neck injury, these comments date back to his time at the waratahs. I think the loss of him will be felt greater at the brumbies, not due it being a lower level, but due to the style of play they use which he is more suited to.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Great leader but the worst player to captain AUS. Good luck to him as he knew the forcoming outcome and did what 90% would do. But leave out the family reasons bs etc etc. money is a fair enough reason so well done he was an honest toiller
Who Needs Melon
Roar Guru
Interesting post.
ozinsa
Guest
Has people really ripped into him? I read some mindless Reds/Brumbies jostling but, on balance, I think people acknowledge Mowen's right to make the call and probably understand it given the extended negotiations about his top up. Personally, I like the cut of the bloke and wish him well. Were I in his shoes I would have made a different decision but perhaps having no talent and dreaming of captaining the Wallabies is different to being good enough and working hard enough to actually do it. Anybody with half a brain and a heart will wish him well.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Good to have you back Elisha! Always happy to see a player/person broaden his horizons. Whether the bloke moves to another country for his family, the sport itself, the lifestyle or the women is irrelevant imo. Its his choice and as such is in essence the right one.
Wall Flower
Guest
Train without a station how do you know iit was temporary? Everyone is mooting that he would be under pressure to retain his position once Palu,Pocock and Higgers were fit. What a load of garbage. Lets have a look at playing minutes this year and top ups to see where the value is: Mowen : 1163 minutes Top up $ 0 Palu: 200 mins or less Top up : $ 400K Pocock: 0 mins Top up $ 400K Higgers: 0 mins Top up $ 400K Horwill: 930 mins Top up $ 300K What Mowen has done is highlight the inequities of a system where players are rewarded for being injured. Palu would not get an overseas contract based on his injury levels and small no of games that stretches back 8 years. The issue now is how dos the ARU keep Fardy and Mogg. Fardy came back from Japan on a small contract and Mowen leaving the Brumbies will help him get upgraded. Moggis training with the Bris bane Lions and would probably get a contract in excess of $ 500K per yearsn't played 2 years do we just let him go. Why is Kimlin and Palmer playing in France. Neither would have been receiving an ARU top up yet we are paying Dennis, S Faainga and a 1,000,000 per yewar for [Palu,Pocock and Higgers on the sidelines. It is time to change these contracts to incentive based otherwise we will not compete with Overseas ,RL or AFL offers!!!
onetruegame
Guest
Yes great article. Yet, sadly, bigotry springs eternal. Ben has climbed his Everest after so many false dawns. Those close to him travelled with him. Or waited at home. Let him do whatever he chooses with his life. A lot more has been invested in players that have displayed less loyalty and professionalism than him. It's only a game. The best game of all, but still just a game. As the Brumbies inaugural coach used to say -'there's more to life than rugby'.
Hopperdoggy
Guest
Well said Elisha. Some of the comments on the other related articles have been absolutely disgraceful. Every man who's a father knows what comes first.