When former Australian Schoolboys prodigy Jack Howarth signed a five-year deal with the Storm at the beginning of 2022, it seemed only a matter of time before the youngster would break through to play regular first grade minutes.
Mid-2024 was far longer than many anticipated but the 21-year-old is now reaping the rewards of his long apprenticeship. He has found a home in the centres over the past three rounds and his form has been good enough to keep the incumbent Reimis Smith out of the side.
Howarth snags his first NRL try
“I think he took a few things for granted,” his coach Craig Bellamy said of Howarth after the Storm’s 24-4 victory over the Roosters. “I don’t say that lightly.”
“I think he was a super kid as a schoolboy and perhaps things came easy for him as a schoolboy, and perhaps didn’t come so easy when he came up into grade.
“The last couple of weeks I think he’s really accepted the strengths he’s got, and how good he can be, especially physically. I think he’s been really good, especially the last couple of weeks.”
Match: Storm v Roosters
Round 20 -
home Team
Storm
1st Position
away Team
Roosters
3rd Position
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Howarth scored Melbourne’s first try on Saturday night – the second of his career - and contributed a game-high 210 run metres.
“I’m just trying to string together some consistency,” he told NRL.com after the match. “That’s what the coach wants, just consistency, and that’s what I’m trying to be, a consistent player, so I’ll just keep trying to do that.”
“I’m really starting to nail down my role [at centre], and everything that comes along with that.”
Performing week in, week out in first grade is one of the most difficult steps for young players to take. With four starts in a row, culminating in a total of seven appearances so far this season – to go with his debut late last year – the former Queensland Under-19 representative is beginning to string together the type of form that suggests he’s on the right track.
He said his understanding of the game has been his largest improvement area after three seasons under Craig Bellamy.
“I just understand the importance of each detail,” he explained.
“I think I used to try to depend on being big enough, on being athletic but everyone’s athletic out there. So you’ve got to understand why certain roles are important, and why we come up with certain game plans, and I think I’ve got a good understanding of that now.”
“We have heaps of techniques that we try to bring into the game. Ever since I’ve come here, my defence has improved.”
Storm v Roosters – Round 20, 2024
His time with the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Queensland Cup has also allowed him to form partnerships with others coming through the Storm system.
Notably, he and Grant Anderson combined beautifully against the Roosters, with the winger scoring a double and making a try-saving tackle on Dominic Young.
“I was playing centre and he was playing winger at one point [at the Falcons] and I feel we have a good connection,” Howarth recalled.
“Defending and working with me on that whole edge - he did unreal.”
