Luke Metcalf set for early Warriors return
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Playmaker Luke Metcalf is back ahead of schedule for the New Zealand Warriors’ round four encounter with the Wests Tigers at Go Media Stadium on Friday night (8.00pm kick-off).
The 27-year-old’s 2025 campaign was ended by an ACL knee injury in the round 17 clash
against the Broncos in Brisbane last June.
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Initially slated to return as late as round 10 this season, his comeback came forward to
round six last week and today he has been confirmed to slot straight back into the halves
in partnership with in-from Tanah Boyd for the first time.
Boyd has again been named at halfback with Metcalf in the #6 jersey, his return a major
boost coming just a week after co-captain Mitchell Barnett came back from his knee
injury to make his 50th appearance for the Warriors last Saturday.
Three other frontliners also return after missing the 38-12 win over Newcastle last week.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Chanel Harris-Tavita were both ruled out last week as they
followed NRL concussion protocols after head knocks in the 40-6 round two win over
minor premiers the Canberra Raiders.
Adam Pompey stayed in Auckland to be with his wife Casey for the birth of their
daughter Kiara Dawn, delivered the same day (March 21) his teammates beat the
Newcastle Knights to move to the top of the NRL table after three straight wins.
He returns to his customary centre role on the left edge where Leka Halasima filled in on
Saturday, Nicoll-Klokstad is at fullback again for Taine Tuaupiki and Harris-Tavita is on
the extended bench.
Halasima, who has four tries in the first three games, reverts to the second row where
he was due to play last week before Pompey was ruled out.
The extended bench of nine comprises Sam Healey, Barnett, Demitric Vaimauga, Tanner
Stowers-Smith, Marata Niukore, Harris-Tavita, Tuaupiki, Alofi Khan-Pereira and Eddie
Ieremia-Toeava.
The One New Zealand Warriors have won the opening three matches of the season for
only the second time in the club’s history; the first was in 2018 when the Warriors put
together a run of five victories on end to open the campaign.
In 39 matches against the Tigers they have a 23-16 win-loss record having won the last
nine straight and 10 of the last 11 encounters.
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Ali Leiataua, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Luke Metcalf, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Mitch Barnett, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 18. Marata Niukore, 20. Chanel Harris-Tavita
Reserves: 21. Taine Tuaupiki, 22. Alifiana Khan-Pereira, 23. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
