Warriors set to lose Metcalf for most of season
Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf will miss the majority of the NRL season with the club confirming he has broken the tibia in his right leg.
Metcalf went down in an innocuouslooking tackle from Tyson Frizzell in just the ninth minute of the Warriors’ 20-12 victory over the Newcastle Knights on Sunday, but the outcome is anything but harmless.
The 25-year-old, who won the early-season battle over Chanel Harris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin to see who would partner Shaun Johnson, is not expected to return until late in the season, meaning around three months on the sidelines.
Although he will be back far sooner, the loss of off-season signing Kurt Capewell due to concussion protocols - for the Rabbitohs clash is just as big a loss, especially following on from his best game in a Warriors jersey with 80 high-quality minutes against the Knights. Capewell reported headaches following Sunday’s win.
Dylan Walker’s ankle injury will also keep him sidelined for another week.
As expected, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck switches back to left centre with fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad set to make a welcome return from a hamstring and back injury that has kept him out of NRL action through the first four weeks.
Metcalf’s injury is a huge blow for the 25-year-old who had started the season strongly and has just recommitted to the club until the end of the 2026 season.
Metcalf, who has scored two tries this season, also missed a large chunk of the 2023 season, his first with the Warriors, due to hamstring injuries.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster has gone with Martin to replace Metcalf, despite Harris-Tavita doing a more than solid job for 71 minutes in the win over the Knights.
Surprisingly, Harris-Tavita has missed out on the game day 17 and has only been selected in the reserves.