Opinion
Jack Howarth and Brendan Piakura are names that rugby league nuffies will know well, yet neither of these incredibly talented footballers are making an impression on the National Rugby League.
In 2022, Howarth signed a five-year deal with the Melbourne Storm for a reported $500,000 per season. The same goes for Piakura from the Broncos, who in 2021 signed a reported $1.2-million deal through to the end of 2024.
If you dig deep into the Round 1 teams selected by both the Broncos and the Storm, you start to scratch your head as to where they sit in the pecking order at their respective clubs.
Both Trent Loiero and new recruit Eli Katoa were both named to start in the backrow for the Storm. Chris Lewis was on the bench.
The assumption was that after Howarth signed this huge contract, he would slot into the second-row position, with Tariq Sims on the other side of the field. But he doesnt look likely at all.
Questions start to be asked. Maybe he’s injured??
However, the thought of potential injury was thrown out the window when selected to play for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in a trial just two weeks ago.
This was on the same weekend Melbourne selected a 26-man squad to fly to New Zealand to play a trial against the Warriors, meaning he is well and truly off the pace at the club.
Sure, young players need to earn the right to play and maybe he’s not ready for first grade. But it’s a trial. Is there no faith in the kid? Does he have an attitude problem?
Piakura is at a similar juncture, given only two games in first grade in two years, one of which he spent ten minutes in the sin bin.
The trials didn’t prove to anyone that he is going to be a certainty to play many minutes this year either, not showing a great amount of promise despite the heavy wallet.
For these two young fellas this should be a moving year, a breakout year, a year where they prove to themselves they are ready, as well as to the competition.
Unfortunately, it feels like déjà vu.
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