Rugby League: Rowley the hero after wading in to save girl

THE HALIFAX hooker, Paul Rowley, is being hailed as a hero in the broader sense after preceding his match-winning performance against London Broncos on Saturday by saving a 12-year-old girl from drowning, writes Dave Hadfield.

Rowley was getting ready at his home in the village of Barrow Bridge, near Bolton, when there was frantic knocking on his front door.

"A girl told me that there was someone in the river opposite my house. It was flowing fast because of the heavy rain and she was close to a waterfall," Rowley said.

He waded in and dragged the girl out. "My biggest problem was getting through the nettles on the bank," said the 23-year-old Rowley, whose bare torso featured in the "Beef Back on the Bone" billboard advertisement for Super League.

"There was a strong current with all the rain we've had, and the danger was that the girl, who was clinging to a rock, might fall down a 20-foot waterfall.

"I carried her out and the firemen came to get us. It made me late for the pre-game meeting and at first nobody believed me," added Rowley.

The girl was allowed home after receiving treatment, while Rowley went on to score a try and set up two in an adrenalin-charged, man of the match display as Halifax won 34-14.

"It's great credit to him for reacting in this way," said the Blue Sox team manager, David Hobbs.

"It was genuine instinct and I'm sure that, even if it had been on the eve of the Challenge Cup final, he would have done the same. He deserves a big pat on the back."

Rowley's proud father, Alan, said: "He didn't have time to think about it, he had quickly to get changed to get to the match. He was shaking later - I think it was a bit of shock."

Australia's leading player, Allan Langer, is believed to be considering a switch to the London Broncos.

The scrum-half, man of the series when Queensland beat New South Wales in the annual State of Origin this year, said: "I have always thought about playing in England for a year or two. I'd listen to anything they have to say."

The Brisbane Broncos captain was controversially left out of Australia's test team earlier this season. Before his dominating role as Queensland captain this season Langer suggested he might retire from representative football.