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TWELVE months ago, Jaiman Lowe was working behind a bar in Cairns while playing Queensland Cup and looking at a future toiling in the mines of central Queensland. There is good money to be made in the mines and Lowe enjoys the shift-work lifestyle, but it would have been a disappointing end to what seemed an unfulfilled rugby league career.

But the 28-year-old is now back in NRL after making the most of a lifeline from South Sydney - returning to the Rabbitohs midway through last season when they suffered a number of injuries to their front-row stocks. Lowe played well enough to spike the interest of the Storm, which was looking to rebuild its forward pack that had been depleted after the salary cap cheating scandal.

''I had never, ever taken my career for granted but I just realised how quickly it could all be over at the end of 2009,'' Lowe said. ''I wasn't wanted at Souths so I thought someone else will pick me up and I waited and waited and it didn't happen … I suppose that was probably the biggest shock.''


Lowe, who is contracted to Melbourne until the end of 2012, said he could not believe his luck when Storm asked if he would be interested in joining the team.

''I was quite content on calling it quits [at the end of last season]. I haven't died wondering. I had done the whole loop and got back to where I wanted to be and I was happy to leave it at that and move on with my life,'' Lowe said.

''I had job interests outside of footy and then I ended up playing a half decent game and Melbourne got in contact; funnily enough we ended up playing them a couple of weeks later and I spoke to [coach] Craig [Bellamy] and [football operation manager] Frank Ponissi after the game and nutted out something that I was happy with and the rest is history, I suppose.''

Lowe, who has been used mainly off the bench this season - where he has again been named for tomorrow's clash against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium - said he realised many people had written him off but he did not have to look to far into history to see examples of so-called washed up players finding a new lease in Melbourne.

''I'm really enjoying it,'' Lowe said. ''At the start of the year I wasn't too happy with my form and I was questioning what the hell I was doing, but I look back now and I'm just keen on playing out the rest of the year and doing as good as I can for Melbourne and fingers crossed things will happen.''

I'll be the 1st to eat crow on this article/topic. I wasn't fussed with the signing of Jaiman Lowe. But after seeing the few games he has had a chance in, I think he was probably a steal, a bargain, real value-for-money. I would like to see him finish playing here. He could have a few good seasons left in him for as long as Bellamy is the coach here.

A pity a former & also current team mate of Lowe's doesn't feel the same way "ahem"

Until last Saturday i was not impressed but he stepped up a mark and played a lot stronger in attack and defence,also kept his cool when Newcastle player was digging him.

BIG JIM wrote:Until last Saturday i was not impressed but he stepped up a mark and played a lot stronger in attack and defence,also kept his cool when Newcastle player was digging him.

my thought exactly! he surprised me and if he keeps that level and can improve his fitness and game time he can have a good role in the team for the next few years

Slowly he's getting better. I wasn't impressed with him either but like you guys mentioned, last week certainly was his best showing to date.

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maybe the old bellamy magic is starting to work...

Mattpoet wrote:maybe the old bellamy magic is starting to work...

I think you have hit the nail on the head there,old habits die hard,and it does take some people a bit longer to change their ways,obviously Bellamy being the coach that he is,saw more him in than we did,and it looks like it just might be starting to pay off,he was impressive on Saturday and barring injury looks to be shaping up to be a good buy for the club.

I remember prior to round I said this bloke would be a great buy and most people said he was useless.

Good to see people getting behind him. Bellamy runs with a low profile pack of players who develop into front liners (bar Kirk Reynoldson and Alex Chan).