Melbourne will add another player's name to their storied history on Thursday night, with young gun Jack Howarth set to make his NRL debut against Brisbane.
The 20-year-old is regarded as one of the best young talents at the Storm and is capable of playing both centre and back-row, with his initiation into the top grade coming in a bench role.
The 105kg Howarth has been in strong form for the Sunshine Coast Falcons over the past couple of years and will join fellow debutant Sua Fa'alago against the table-topping Broncos.
The Sporting News takes a look at Howarth's career to date below.
Who is Jack Howarth? Storm rookie set to make NRL debut
Originally from the Rockhampton region in Queensland, Howarth moved to Brisbane at a young age and attended Brisbane Boys' High School, playing his junior football for Easts Tigers.
After being signed by the Storm as a teenager, Howarth would go on to represent both the Australian Schoolboys and Queensland U18s team in 2019, before lining up the Maroons again in the Under 19s last season.
Howarth has come through the lower grades with Melbourne, plying his trade for the Victorian Thunderbolts in Jersey Flegg, before being promoted to the Falcons in the Hostplus Cup.
Storm general manager of football Frank Ponissi said the decision to reward Howarth and Fa'alago with debuts was a choice that didn't come lightly.
“Both Sua and Jack have been knocking on the selection door for a few weeks now,” Ponissi said.
“We see this as the perfect opportunity for them to experience the physicality and speed of NRL after spending the season with the Falcons and there is no better test than the Broncos.
"It is an exciting time for the players and their families to play in one of the biggest games of the year in one of the biggest rugby league stadiums in the country. We can’t wait to see what they bring to the side.
“It was a tough decision to manage some of our senior players this week who have been carrying niggling injuries, but that gives us a chance to look at others like Sua and Jack who have been waiting for their chance to test themselves."
Howarth has played 17 games for Sunny Coast this year, crossing for three tries, and is signed with the Storm until at least the end of the 2027 season - a clear sign of the club's high hopes for him long-term.
Jack Howarth 2023 QLD Cup stats
| Games | 17 |
| Tries | 3 |
| Try Assists | 3 |
| Linebreaks | 5 |
| Tackle Breaks | 62 |
| Avg. Run Metres | 112m |
| Avg. Tackles | 20 |
| Tackle Efficiency | 91% |
