NRL 2023: Melbourne Storm unleash $2 million rookie sensation Jack Howarth for debut
He is the schoolboy sensation who starred alongside Broncos whizkid Reece Walsh and rejected the Wallabies to ink a $2 million mega deal with Melbourne.
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He is the schoolboy sensation who starred alongside Broncos whizkid Reece Walsh and rejected the Wallabies to ink a $2 million mega deal with Melbourne.
Now Jack Howarth will be unleashed on the NRL with the Queensland young gun to make his first-grade debut for Melbourne in Thursday night’s clash against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy’s decision to rest 10 top-liners has opened the door for the hulking Howarth to finally get his big break after a patient two-year wait for his NRL baptism.
A towering back-rower or centre, Howarth stands 193cm, weighs 105kg and was at the centre of a cross-code bidding war in 2019 after he and Walsh were the top two players at the Australian Schoolboys championships.
The then 18-year-old was so highly regarded he was targeted by the Queensland Reds and Rugby Australia before opting for the Storm, who upgraded Howarth on a five-year deal last season.
The Brisbane Boys College product will come off the bench in jumper No.17 and Broncos legend Corey Parker, who coached Howarth in the Queensland under-18s, says the Storm rookie is the real deal.
“Jack is a super talent,” Parker said.
“I coached him in the Queensland under-18s and he was alongside guys like ‘The Hammer’ (Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow), Sam Walker and Reece Walsh, it was a star-studded side.
“He has all the attributes.
“He is a big, athletic, fast guy and the scary thing is he’s still growing into his frame
“There’s no doubt for me he can have a long career in the NRL.”
Howarth was expected to be blooded by the Storm in first grade last season, but Bellamy has taken a cautious approach, ensuring the young gun served his apprenticeship with feeder club Sunshine Coast in the Queensland Cup.
Howarth has played 36 games for the Falcons and has kicked on this season, averaging 112 running metres and posting 62 tackle busts on his way to a Storm debut at Suncorp.
“The Covid period really stunted his growth like a lot of his teammates, they just didn’t have the opportunity to play much football,” Parker said.
“I know the Storm had high expectations for him, so much so that they signed him to a long-term deal.
“Jack hasn’t come on as quickly as we thought, but this is a great opportunity for him.”
The Storm had the inside running on Howarth thanks to their recruitment guru Paul Bunn, who knew the family from Rockhampton.
However, they still had to fend off interest from the Queensland Reds and the Wallabies to win his signature given Howarth was a dual code star at high school.
The Covid crisis and injury delayed his shot at first grade but after delivering some consistent performances in the Queensland Cup, Howarth’s time has now arrived.
“He excelled at schoolboy rugby in his last two years in GPS competition,” Melbourne general manager of football Frank Ponissi said.
“You speak to anyone in rugby and they always ask how he is going because he was the absolute standout.
“In 2021, he was really unlucky because we started as a group and then when we were relocated (to Queensland during the Covid crisis), Jack didn’t make the cut because at the time he was injured.
“So he stayed back in Melbourne and missed a fair chunk of 2021 where he didn’t remain with the team, let alone play any footy at all.
“That was a critical year and he lost a fair bit of development.
“This year he started well and he nearly made his debut in the Anzac Day game against the Warriors. He was really, really close. Then he got injured. The last few weeks he has really started to come good.
“He deserves his opportunity.”
The Storm are just as excited about home-grown product Sualauvi Faalogo, who has scored some spectacular tries in the Queensland Cup and is expected to share fullback duties with Ryan Papenhuyzen against the Broncos.
“The last few weeks we have pushed him to the wing and he has gone to another level, so he has added another string to his bow,” Ponissi said.
“Billy (Slater) has done a fair bit of work with him. Nick Meaney will come back to fullback next week so Paps’ role in the finals will be coming off the bench.
“At some stage in the game Craig will want him practicing what he will do in the finals. It will be very unlikely Paps will play 80 minutes at fullback.”
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Originally published as NRL 2023: Melbourne Storm unleash $2 million rookie sensation Jack Howarth for debut
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