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.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Broncs should be looking at Mo Fotuaika as a replacement for Flegler, and at a lost less $$. Holbrook's coaching has taken him from an origin player and Togan rep to a bench warmer
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Qld Cup starts this weekend. Howarth not named in the Falcons side and Piakura not named in the Devils side, Assume both injured. I did see an interview with Bellamy last year where he said Howarth would not be considered for Storm "until he gets the errors out of his game" ? Piakura played well for NZ Maori in the All Stars game, Despite being a Cook Islands World Cup Rep ?
AJ
Guest
Rugby Nuffy here, and I know Jack Howarth. Except he played outside centre, in a BBC first xv that won the premiership for the first time forever. Was the dominant player in GPS for 2 or 3 years. I still find it hard to believe that in the forwards in RL. Beautiful runner.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Tapau would need to do better than he did at Manly to be a decent buy. He was very good a few years back but very average in recent times. He got away with one of those silly passes almost off the ground in round one but they are no good , risky and low reward.
Rellum
Roar Guru
We have Logan Bayliss and Te Kura(who looked great in the trails). Makes up for the Roosters poaching raids
Don
Roar Rookie
Your prop stocks are good though. If that Willison kid is fit he's a cracker. When he finishes growing into that frame he'll be like Payne Haas. Has very good hands too.
Don
Roar Rookie
Who is Piakura going to unseat from the side last week? Tapau is going to be the best value buy Brisbane has made for some time. Palasia, Flegler and Tapau make for a solid interchange. Piakura is going to get his chance with injuries and when Carrigan, Haas and Capewell go into SOO. He could have some more pressure making the best 17 next year if Brisbane pick up David Fifita.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I believe Jack Howarth had off season surgery so he might not be ready yet. Piakura to me has not kicked on. It is telling we were chasing Fifita. Our backrow stocks are pretty thin. Fifita at the right price would have been great. The Broncs certainly need to find more second row forwards though
The Barry
Roar Guru
From a SuperCoach perspective I’d love to see them getting a chance It’s tougher for young forwards to make a start when young than it is for outside backs. Holding a year or two might benefit them in the long run I think Dutski might be right about Howarth. Bringing him in to an under manned team where he needs to play big minutes in round 1 stacks in the pressure Piakura is a bit more interesting. He’s been in the broncos system for a while and they’ve blooded a lot of young forwards
Dutski
Roar Guru
Congrats on the first article Cormaic. Piakura is behind some good talent at the moment and is really waiting for an injury to open an opportunity. With TC Robati getting the spear he’s one step closer. At Melbourne they’ve lost a stack of experience, so I’m not surprised Bellamy is going for older heads in his pack to start rather than throwing a young kid in there. Once the team is more settled look for Bellamy to bring the younger players through later in the year.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Jack Howarth is 20 years old and on half a million big ones for this season and beyond. He's six foot four and weighs 105 kilo's. Something looks a bit wobbly at this stage. The Storm have given him the biggest endorsement ever Id say with the contract he has. Is it a sign that the Storm as a club are not as sharp as they used to be?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I think they just aren't ready . There is a relentless pressure from fans and clubs to play young stars but it is not always the right thing to do. So in all probability they just need more time. The other possibility of course is they are both duds.