It was only last year that centre Jack Howarth was playing Hostplus Cup, and the player who had been touted as a future superstar looked far from Craig Bellamy’s first-team plans.
Now, there are calls for the 22-year-old Mackay-born centre – who turned down an opportunity to play with New Zealand last year – to join Billy Slater’s Queensland side and help turn their fortunes around.
Howarth with a steal!
Howarth was a key contributor in the Storm’s defensive effort against the Cowboys on Friday night that culminated in a 38-14 win.
He has also showed off his attacking attributes this season, with five try assists.
“The fact that I’m even in the conversation, I’m so grateful,” Howarth said post game.
“It got to a point last year when I was playing in the Queensland Cup, and I was a bit worried where I was.
“I didn't know where I was going to end up. Those moments make you realise that you don't just get guaranteed anything.
“If I'm in the conversation and in the picture for Origin, hopefully I'm fit and ready to take it.”
The young talent has put his improvements down to consistency, both in the sense of playing every week and having the same players around him.
“When you play with the same edge over two years that we've been together, you just learn how everyone defends, how each player defends,” Howarth said.
“I didn't defend too well last week (against the Titans), so it was my main focus this week.
“I stripped back everything, and I just wanted to make sure I was making my tackles.
“It made it a bit personal this week.”
Storm: Round 14
The growth that he is taking from every game is something that his coach Craig Bellamy was quite to point out post-game.
“Jack’s still only a young bloke, to be quite honest - quite inexperienced,” Bellamy said.
“Those guys [Howarth and second-row Shawn Blore] seem to be picking things up quite quickly.
“I have no doubt they still have plenty of improvement in them, individually and also as a left edge.”
While Origin might be a possibility on the horizon for Howarth, front of mind is his work with the Storm, who can now take the momentum from the win into the rest of the year.
The Storm will play 12 consecutive games to finish the season after their bye next week.
It’s when you win a game and then lose a game, you're reflecting on things that don't really help you move forward,” Howarth said.
“So just getting two wins going into a bye gives us that satisfaction and knowing we're going in the right direction with our game.
“It’s going to help us having this week off. We're going to soak it up and enjoy it now.”
