The first five-eighth is a key player as the Highlanders prepare for their third round match against the Waratahs at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday night.
Bowden has scored clever individual tries in the Highlanders' first two matches and has looked more confident than the sometimes tentative pivot of last year.
"As you play more, you get a better feel for the game and I guess I feel more comfortable than last year," Bowden said.
"I'm only 22 but I like to think I'm out of the rookie bracket now. "So far it's been going well and I've been happy with my form. It's just a matter of me maintaining some consistency so I keep getting the best out of my game.
"I don't want to be a flash in the pan. I want to be consistent, to improve my goal-kicking and to cement the first five-eighth position." Bowden has worked hard on his goal-kicking with Highlanders' kicking coach, Matt Carrington.
"He's been an exceptional help," Bowden said. "I'm trying to fine-tune the technical aspects and make sure the consistency is there.
"I can't afford to have one really good kick and then a poor kick. The mental side of kicking is very important and it's often overlooked but I'm reasonably happy with the way I'm striking the ball."
Bowden, who played 27 games for Northland before he transferred to Otago last year, said Northland stalwart David Holwell had been a major influence on his career.
"Dave's been huge. It's hard to describe how much of a help he's been to me. He's been my go-to and I still keep in contact with him and get his advice.
"He's played more than 250 first-class games, he's got a wealth of knowledge and he's always gone out of his way to accommodate me."
Bowden said the word frustration was an understatement after the Highlanders late losses to the Brumbies (31-33) and Hurricanes (17-22).
"We're not far away but it's just those closing few minutes of the game that we're struggling with. It's just the little things that have tended to creep in during the last few minutes.
"If we can eliminate them, we'd put ourselves under a lot less pressure and close out games."
"The experience factor has been raised a few times but you can only gain experience by playing and we should be learning from our mistakes. "We've spent a lot of time trying to nail what to do in the dying minutes of games."
Bowden will be playing his first match at the Sydney Football Stadium but he is not overawed at the prospect.
"The Waratahs have had two wins but they probably haven't hit their straps yet. "They're a quality side, they were in the final last year, and they've got 10 or more internationals.
"When they bring their A game they're going to be tough to combat but, in saying that, this week we're more focused on us and getting our little things right."
There is just one change in the Highlanders to play the Waratahs, left wing Fetu'u Vainikolo returning from suspension to replace Kendrick Lynn.
Bowden, who attended Auckland Grammar School and played for New Zealand under-21 in 2007, will return north after the Super 14 to play for Auckland in the Air NZ Cup. His family and fiancee are both based in Auckland.
