Luke Metcalf secured for NZ Warriors
- Dave Worsley
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
Halfback Luke Metcalf has inked a two-year contract extension to lock in his future with the One New Zealand Warriors until the end of the 2028 NRL season.
Off contract at the end of the 2026 season, the 26-year-old was certain to be one of the
game’s most highly sought-after players but has recommitted to the New Zealand
Warriors ahead of becoming a free agent from 1 November 2025
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“We’re absolutely thrilled Luke will be with us for another three seasons,” said One New
Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George.
“It’s a critical signing which underlines how much Luke means to us and equally how much
the club means to him and his family.”
The Coffs Harbour-born Metcalf was in outstanding form in the first half of the 2025 season
as a series of superb performances catapulted him into the lead of the Dally M Medal race on
31 points when voting went behind closed doors.
His season was ended by an ACL knee injury in the round 17 loss to Brisbane but, despite
missing the club’s last nine regular season matches, he still finished eighth with a total of 41
points.
“What we saw from Luke this season reinforced our thinking from the outset about his huge
potential – and he still has lots more development in him,” said Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.
“What we’ve always admired about him is his knowledge of the game and his keenness to
be involved in all we’re doing to take the club forward.”
Taking on the responsibility as the Warriors’ chief playmaker this year, Metcalf finished his
15-game campaign with 117 points from eight tries, 42 goals and a field goal, averaged 71
metres a game and had nine try assists, eight line breaks and 28 tackle breaks.
“Luke’s signing is really important for our club’s future,” said One New Zealand Warriors
head coach Andrew Webster.
“He showed this season the impact he had on our side and, with the right luck with injury, I
know he’ll improve again and be dominant.
“I’m so happy he and his family have faith in us to go to the next level.”
When Metcalf arrived at the club he had played just seven NRL games for the Sharks. As
Warrior #281 he has added 34 games to his career tally including 23 victories (a 68 per cent
winning rate).
“I’m really happy to get it sorted and get it done. So stoked I can now look to the future and
the next few years,” he said.
“We've got a really good team here and I think we can do something special. I can't wait to
get back and start playing.
“I’m so lucky to have a coach like Webby and a CEO like Cam who trust and believe in me.
They gave me the chance to be a halfback and gave me the keys to the team. They trust
me to guide this team around and get to the ultimate goal that we're chasing. That was
massive for me to have that. That's something I've only ever wanted in my career.”
Metcalf said the ultimate goal – the dream of winning the Warriors’ first premiership – was
critical in his decision-making process.
“I feel it left a bit of a sour taste in everyone's mouth the way the season finished this year,”
he said.
“There's that lingering thing of trying to win the Warriors their first comp. That's what keeps
me up at night and keeps me motivated. You want to go down in history as one of the
greatest teams and greatest players to play the game. For me there was one way to do that
and that was by winning a comp here with the Warriors.
“The way the New Zealand public have taken me in. I came here with my partner and we've
had a baby and created a home away from home here.
I love the whole place .. the Warriors, New Zealand in general, Auckland. We went down
and had our wedding in Queenstown.”
Metcalf started his career in the junior grades with the Sharks from 2015-2017, had a stint
with Manly Warringah from 2018-2020 and then returned to the Sharks where he made his
first-grade debut in 2021.