Gun playmaker Luke Metcalf is being tipped to leave the club at season’s end with his role at the Warriors up in the air.
Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Tanah Boyd has been super impressive at halfback this season in Metcalf’s absence, leading the Warriors to second on the ladder entering Magic Round.
Metcalf returned from a serious knee injury in Round 4, playing in two games before suffering a hamstring injury. He’s expected to come off the bench against the Broncos this weekend.
Boyd’s form has been rewarded with a contract extension, indicating the Warriors want to push forward with Boyd at halfback.
Metcalf’s preference is to wear the No. 7 and reports emerged last week he was hoping to meet with the club to determine where he stood.
The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie broke that story last week.
“It wasn’t anything confrontational. It wasn’t we want a release it was more, where do you see Luke Metcalf in the club’s plans and where do they see Metcalf playing,” Ritchie explained on NRL360.
“They aren’t talking walkout yet. The Warriors seem to think he could play six but I don’t think if you ask Luke Metcalf on the quiet if he wants to play six, he doesn’t, he wants to play seven.
“Luke thinks of himself as a seven and an elite seven. I’m not saying his nose is out of joint but I am saying someone has taken his spot and he wants to find out what his future is at the club.”
‘Don’t Blame Galvin!’ – Debate reignites | 01:54
MORE NRL NEWS
CRAWLEY: Dragons’ $1.9m hangover … and star who can’t be allowed to play again this season
TEAM TIPS: Wayne dilemma in Latrell’s Origin dash; big Galvin watch as wild Ciraldo truth revealed
TALKING POINTS: Maroons icon’s shock Ponga call for Origin; ‘lazy’ moments from ‘diabolic’ Broncos called out
Metcalf signed a rich extension with the club last year, recommitting until the end of 2028.
Given that new deal doesn’t start until next season, NRL360 host Braith Anasta finds the timing of Metcalf’s request for a meeting “odd”.
“We’ve heard the rustlings and rumours that his manager isn’t happy,” Anasta said.
“Is this a bit premature? Chanel Harris-Tavita isn’t going to be there. Why can’t Metcalf play six?
“I don’t understand this. I think he and Tanah Boyd can make a good (halves) combination. Surely the Warriors want this?”
That led Brent Read to drop a stunning prediction.
“I don’t think he’ll be there next year. Because he wants to play halfback and he’s not going to be the halfback there,” Read said.
“It seems as though he’s not overly happy playing six if you read the tea leaves.
“By the sounds of it, he wants to play seven. It would not surprise me (if he left).
“In an ideal world, they play in the halves together but it seems as though he wants to play halfback. If that’s the case, he’s not going to play halfback because Tanah Boyd.”
If Metcalf does signal he wants to leave the Warriors, there will be no shortage of clubs interested in his services with several halves-needy teams around the league.
Discussion about this post