 Howell previously played for the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League.Howell made his first grade début for the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2003, where he made 12 NRL appearances before joining the Canberra Raiders in 2005.He was released from the final year of his contract with the Canberra Raiders to join the London-based Harlequins.