North Queensland Fury have entered the A-League with a more modest fanfare to that of state neighbours Gold Coast United. Despite a meeker interest in the overall franchise, North Queensland have created the story of the closed season.

Former Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester City and England striker Robbie Fowler has been signed as the club's inaugural marquee player. However even the signing of an international class player - known by Liverpool fans as "God" with over 170 goals at the highest level - has failed to make the national splash it deserves.

If Fowler had signed for Sydney, Melbourne or even Gold Coast, then his arrival would have been lauded as the biggest signing the league has ever made; bigger even than Dwight Yorke's arrival considering the advanced maturity of the league.

Instead observers were more fazed with questioning his motives for moving to remote and underwhelming Townsville, if he will be able to handle the heat and humidity and why he didn't sign for a more "glamorous" A-League club?

There also might be a lack of awareness from local fans about just how good Fowler was - and potentially will be - with Fury in their first season. In short, the Liverpool legend was good. Very good. Exceptional in fact. You don't get called "God" for nothing.

Some may claim the 33-year old has not hit his Liverpool heights in years. Others point out injury and poor form might render Fowler an A-League passenger in the twilight of his career. Some say he won't get the support to enable his goal scoring ways.

However Fowler's attributes ensure his talents can be leveraged in the A-League. We can't think of many footballers who strike the ball harder or cleaner than Fowler. If Fowler keeps himself fit, he will score goals and gather crowds like an A-League marquee player should.

On the day Fowler arrives in Townsville, FourFourTwo is on the phone with the biggest attraction in the area since the first Great Barrier Reef boat tour was established. We're keen to find out his reasons for the move and Fowler's Fury hopes, but we also want to reminisce with this EPL legend about the Aussies he has played with and against in his illustrious career.

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Welcome to Australia Robbie. Tell us why you were keen to come out?

I came over and I liked what I saw in terms of the facilities. I spoke to the manager and chairman at great length about joining and to have the chance to be part of a new franchise was a little bit special. It was the chance to be part of history. When I was speaking to the manager he told me what he wanted to do and what he wanted to get together in terms of plans and players. From then on I was just keen. The fact it is a brand new team was really important. So I was keen from day one, but it was a case of speaking to the missus. As much as I like to think I wear the trousers, we all know we don't. It was her decision to actually come. It could have been a struggle to get the move done otherwise, but she gave me the nod to come out here and here I am.

Was there any interest from other clubs in Australia or elsewhere?

There were some other clubs from China, Singapore and various other places, but no others in Australia that I was aware of.

How long do you see yourself being a Fury player?

I have a contract for two years, but I can see myself playing much longer than that. Although I have not played much lately, I still feel that I can do a job. You never know what is going to happen. I'm not going to sit here and say I'm going to simply use the Fury as a stepping stone as that's disrespectful. I've signed up for two years, and hopefully everything will go well, I'll play well and the family will be happy, but who knows what will happen until the two years is up. That is a discussion for there and then.

Have you set yourself any targets for the coming season?

To be honest, no I haven't. And I never have done in terms of "I'm going to score this many goals". Only for the simple fact that if you do set yourself targets and you don't reach them, then you have let yourself down. Obviously I want to do well and I know it is a little bit clichéd, but football is a team game and regardless of what people may think or say about me, I think I am a team player. This is probably clichéd again, but if the team is doing well then I'm all for that. I'm more behind the team doing well than just individuals. If the team is doing well, then you are going to be happy yourself.

What is your approach to handling the heat and humidity in North Queensland?

Until I actually get running and doing various training sessions then I can't really say. I know it is going to be difficult as it is something I'm not used to. The pre-season doesn't start until May, so I would have had seven or eight weeks to get myself right and ready. In terms of the acclimatising, by the time pre-season comes around then I will be ready for it.

What do you know about the A-League and what are your expectations of the level of play?

I think the level is very, very good. Everyone knows and it has been well documented that I almost went to Sydney FC two years ago, but I kept in touch with what was going on in the
A-League. I've been very impressed, it is a good league and the standard is good and has progressed over those two years. Now two new teams are coming into the league and with the supporters that are going to go to the games, the league will progress further on from the two years since I've been following it more. There are players who have played in the Premier League, there are players who have played in the top league in Scotland and various other places around the world, it is obviously a very good league with very good players in it.

Looking back at your EPL days, you had a few encounters with our overseas Aussies. At Leeds you played alongside both Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka...

I cannot speak highly enough of those two. Mark Viduka is so laidback, a great lad, very dry and very funny. He is also a fantastic player and I always got on well with him. I loved playing up front with Viduka as he was a great foil for me. He used to hold the ball up well and take defenders out of the game. As much as people say I didn't have a good time at Leeds, I scored 12 goals in 24 games, which was not bad. The majority of those games were played with him, so I had a good time playing alongside Viduka. Harry was quite quiet, but a nice lad and I got to play with him at Liverpool too.

Did you speak to Harry ahead of his move to Liverpool?

No, I never did, to be honest. I think I was at Manchester City at the time. It was a great move for him at the time and Liverpool is a fantastic club. Unfortunately he struggled a little bit with injuries but I know how dedicated he is. He plays the game in the right way, he is strong, quick and has every attribute you are looking for, but unfortunately a few players do carry a few injuries in their career. But regardless of his health problems, he is still a fantastic player. He has proven over the years and at now in Turkey with Galatasaray by doing so well that he is world class.

You've not always had pleasant memories of Aussies. Can we take you back to 2005 when Mark Schwarzer saved your injury-time penalty to send Middlesbrough into the UEFA Cup at the expense of your team Manchester City...

Yeah, thanks for bringing that up! It's not the first penalty that I've missed, but hopefully it is the last. It wasn't a bad penalty, it was just a very good save. It was right in the corner. As a forward or a player you want to score every penalty, but to be fair to Schwarz, he made a very good save so I couldn't say "it was just a bad penalty". When I stepped up to take the penalty, I caught it cleanly enough, it was just a good save and there is no taking that away from him.