Adrian Vowles

Vowles was 'Player of the Year' in his début year with the Gold Coast Seagulls and was selected as a reserve back in Queensland's second State of Origin match in 1994 played for the first time in Melbourne.

Vowles signed with the North Queensland Cowboys in 1995 but was sent off in the club's first premiership match, a 32-16 loss to the Sydney Bulldogs.

North Queensland used six different captains as they struggled through a difficult foundation season in 1995. Vowles, appointed by new coach Graham Lowe, took on the role permanently in 1996. Vowles was let go by new coach Tim Sheens at the end of the 1996 ARL season. In 2019, Vowles spoke about being let go by North Queensland saying "I didn't miss one game, played half the year with a torn groin and a hernia and it was late when I got told that I wasn't wanted. It was mid-November. We'd already come back and they named a 25-man Super League squad and I wasn't named. Tim Sheens sat in his chair and his exact words were "You're not big enough, you're not fast enough, you're not strong enough and you've got limited ability". "I don't mind that he didn't want me, but don't belittle me. There was a way to do it. I haven't seen him since that day but things happen for a reason".[2]

After two seasons in North Queensland, Vowles moved to England to play with Castleford from 1997 through to 2001. During that time he was selected to represent Scotland in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup,[3] as well as being voted the winner of the Man of Steel award in 1999.The first ever Castleford Tigers player to do so and also the first Queenslander to win the award [4] He played the last three games of the 2003 season when he was granted a release from Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. He returned to the Tigers in 2005 for a brief spell in their promotion winning season back into the Super League.

Vowles moved to Leeds Rhinos in 2002 but switched to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats mid-season to take on a player-coach role.

Vowles and co-coach Shane McNally saved Wakefield Trinity Wildcats from relegation in the 2002 season. Vowles became player number 1197, and remained with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats until the final three matches of the 2003 season, when he was granted a release by the club, and he returned to Australia.

Vowles returned to his home state Queensland to play in the Queensland Cup for the Brisbane Broncos feeder club, the Toowoomba Clydesdales. Strong performances throughout season 2004 almost had Vowles running on the field in top flight premiership football again in the National Rugby League competition after an 8-year absence.

After a year in the Queensland Cup at Toowoomba, Vowles shifted clubs and headed for the Gold Coast to play for the Burleigh Bears in 2005. He played in the Queensland Cup Grand Final side which were runners up to the North Queensland Young Guns. Vowles then became assistant coach before relinquishing that role to become the CEO.