The Melbourne Storm have revealed young star Jack Howarth will miss the next few weeks after undergoing surgery to remove his appendix, ruling him out of State of Origin 3. The centre was 19th man for Queensland in Origin 2 and the next cab off the rank if coach Billy Slater wanted to make a change to his back-line for the decider.
The 22-year-old has been on Slater’s radar for the last 12 months, but has endured an injury-plagued season in 2025. He missed six weeks earlier this year after dislocating his shoulder, which ruled him out of contention for Origin.
And appendicitis has now seen his chances of playing in Game 3 ruined as well. The Storm’s General Manager of Football Frank Ponissi revealed on Wednesday: “Jack came down with appendicitis yesterday (Tuesday) and had surgery to remove his appendix last night. Unfortunately, it rules Jack out for the next few weeks, including this Sunday’s game against the Sharks and State of Origin with Queensland.”
According to renowned ‘NRL Physio’ Brien Seeney, the usual return to play timeframe after an appendix removal is 3-5 weeks. Seeney noted the fastest return after appendix surgery was Adam Reynolds in 2017, who only missed two weeks.
It comes as a cruel blow for Howarth, who’s been knocking down the door for Origin selection after a breakout year in 2024. Robert Toia has emerged as a State of Origin star for the Maroons, but it looked like Howarth had his nose in front before the shoulder injury ruined his chances of debuting in Game.
Harry Grant helping turn Jack Howarth into Origin player
Speaking last month, Howarth revealed how fellow Storm and Queensland star Harry Grant helped turn him into an emerging Origin player. The former Australian Schoolboys star signed a five-year contract with the Storm in January of 2022, but it took him until 2024 to get a regular gig in the Storm’s star-studded back-line.
“I lived with Harry Grant for a year and he would cut clips up for me and tell me what I was doing right and what I needed to do better to be in the team,” Howarth told AAP. “Harry had explained to me a few things I had to change because what I thought was important is a lot different to what (Storm coach) Craig Bellamy thinks is important.”
He added: “Craig is a very effort area type of person and I was always more concerned with how I went in attack. That is what I would base my game off, whereas he based a good game off defence and effort so I realised that and switched my mentality.
“My dream is to play for Queensland. It is the pinnacle of rugby league, especially coming from Rockhampton and doing all my schooling in Brisbane. Just being amongst all the Origins in Brisbane growing up was crazy. Hopefully I do get the opportunity.”
Howarth revealed he’s been receiving one-on-one tutelage from Slater – a Melbourne Storm legend. “Billy does show me a few clips from games,” Howarth said. “He is very similar to Craig. It is the effort areas that he wants me to do well in.”
