Bowman may be forced to retire

North Queensland veteran Paul Bowman could be forced into early retirement if a career-threatening neck injury doesn't improve over the next month.

The 30-year-old former Queensland Origin centre has a disc protrusion in his neck and will be rested for a month before undergoing further tests. Bowman says he may have to decide whether to have surgery on the neck and play in 2007 or retire from the NRL.

He was a late withdrawal from the Cowboys side thrashed 54-14 by heavyweights the Bulldogs in Townsville on Saturday night.