In 1998 Howe was banned for 22 matches for using stanozolol.[3]
Howe played at prop forward for Melbourne in their victory in the 1999 NRL Grand Final.
In 2000 Howe was named the Melbourne Storm's player of the year.[4]
In 2001, Howe won a special sports edition of the Australian game show The Weakest Link, defeating Kangaroos AFL player David King, winning $46,300 in total winnings and donating it towards the Cancer Council of Victoria.[5][6] It was, at the time one of the highest ever scores achieved on the show.
Howe was again named the Storm's player of the year in 2002.