Jacks on mission to make impact in Storm return
Ryley Jacks always felt he had unfinished business with Melbourne and now he has the chance to complete it after securing a career lifeline with the NRL heavyweights.
The 27-year-old halfback has gone from the basement to the reigning minor premiers, signing a one-year deal with the Storm for 2020.
With the Storm in 2016 and 2017, Jacks spent last season with Gold Coast who went on to claim the wooden spoon.
In a stressful post-season, which also included his wedding, he looked like he would return to his carpenter days when he was cut by the lastplaced Titans.
However, a halfback berth opened up in Melbourne due to Brodie Croft’s shift to Brisbane, and Jacks moved south again on a train-and-trial offer.
“It felt weird leaving (back in 2018),” Jacks said. “I didn’t feel like I’d finished here when I was walking out of the building and, a year on, it doesn’t feel too strange to be back.
“I always thought I would be back playing for the Storm.
“I’m so grateful to have another chance here in Melbourne.”
The Storm will be hoping Jacks proves a lucky charm as they look to improve on their preliminary final showing.
He has an 80 per cent winloss record with 20 victories from his 25 games over 2017-2018, but Jacks sees it differently.
“I’m pretty lucky to be in this team,” he said yesterday.
Jacks will likely start behind preferred No.7 Jahrome Hughes, while youngster Cooper Johns is also in the mix.
Despite the lack of Titans success, he felt he’d grown as a player. “Out on the field I learnt to have more control of games,” Jacks said. “I had a bigger role to take on so I learnt a lot.”