Luke Metcalf
- Thread starter BurgoShark
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andrew's_sharks
Great White
I think Tracey's strengths are his speed and running game. If he can develop a reasonable passing game he could turn into a fairly good fullback.
I do think Metcalf has all the tools to become a solid fullback, I am just not convinced he will be NRL ready this year.
Wiz
Jaws
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I wouldn’t be so sold on Tracey at fullback..
Passing game isn’t there
Is he even that fast ?
Is his defence better then Kennedy’s at least ?
Positioning?
Catching ?
He also tends to get smashed in tackles
Happy to see him get a chance since he’s not that great at 6 but can see how teams might have a field day against him
If you want ballplaying as the primary skill in the fullback then we just keep Kennedy there (until Metcalf is properly ready to challenge him).
Tracey coming in would be sacrificing Kennedy's strengths to better cover his weaknesses.
As for most of your questions he has been training there most of preseason and presumably will play some fullback in trial so that should give us a better idea.
snowman
Total gronk
Kennedys ball playing is quite bad, if thats the primary attribute its Metcalf all day long
Sparkles
Jaws
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Fullback passing game is a bit different than in the halves, but I think he has enough ability to pick it up. I'd agree though that it didn't look at fullback level last season.
Yep, he's pretty fast.
I think his D would be pretty good. He can fill in at hooker so I'm not worried about him putting his body on the line.
Positioning, not sure.
Catching - apparently they've been testing him extensively throughout the pre-season. No bad reports, so take that as you will. On the topics - this is an interesting read - https://www.denipt.com.au/rugby/2021/01/31/2851117/tracey-ready-for-no1-spot-at-sharks
Smashed - yeah, he's no Val body-wise. That could hold him back, though plenty of smaller fullbacks has worked out ways around it. Our wingers are good returners, so at least we wouldn't have to rely on him barging it up the field. And he'd be no worse than Kennedy, who was folded more than origami swan last year.
I wouldn't necessarily see him as the permenant number 1 (i'd hope we treat that as a marque position when we have the cash), but an upgrade on Kennedy right now
egg
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SPORTINGNEWS ( A short Read 
)
Luke Metcalf returns to Cronulla Sharks with a point to prove after disappointing stint at Manly
WRITTEN BY
LACHLAN MCKIRD
After spending three disappointing seasons at Manly, Luke Metcalf has returned to the Cronulla Sharks ready to make his mark and earn that elusive NRL debut.
The electric 21-year-old set tongues wagging across the NRL after a blistering tournament at the Perth Nines for the Sea Eagles in 2020.
His raw pace and game awareness had many excited to see what impact he could make in first grade.
However, even with injuries throughout the year to star fullback Tom Trbojevic and five-eighth Dylan Walker, Manly coach Des Hasler never turned to Metcalf.
MORE: Which NRL club with a new coach will improve most in 2021?
The COVID-19 disrupted season meant there was no opportunity for Metcalf to shine in the NSW Cup and prove his worth in reserve grade.
As a result, it was a frustrating 12 months of waking up at 5 am, beginning his daily commute from Engadine to Narrabeen and continually left wanting for a first-grade chance.
And there's no doubt that Metcalf left everything on the training paddock trying to impress Hasler and the Manly coaching staff.
Metcalf suffered an ACL injury in 2019 which ruled him out for the season and he was determined to bounce back.
Manly missed the finals in 2020 and as the end of the season rolled around, Metcalf was told there wouldn't be a new contract waiting for him.
After three years with the Sea Eagles, it was a bitter blow but he is able to see the silver lining of it all now that he's back with his junior club.
"Yeah I was a little bit (disappointed)," Metcalf told Sporting News.
"The year before I tore my ACL at the start of the season and then came back in the Nines.
"But then coronavirus sort of messed things up. I would have liked to have capitalise on it and make my debut and play a few games in the NRL but it didn’t work out how I thought it would go.
"I think in the end, it could just be a blessing in disguise and I think I’m going to learn from it and learn how the year went. I’ll take that in with a bit of a chip on my shoulder and I’m ready to go into this season."
While Metcalf doesn't explicitly feel as though he has a point to prove to his old side, there's no doubting that it's added motivation for him to make the most of his new opportunity at Cronulla.
But if he does succeed back in the Shire, he knows that a lot of that is down to his development at Manly.
He joined the Northern Beaches club to learn from the best and now he's ready to take that development and put it into practice.
"I went over there to learn off people like Daly Cherry-Evans, Tom Trbojevic and boys like that," Metcalf said.
"I feel like it made me a bit of a better football player on the education side of things. Being able to go over there and learn off them guys.
"In the long run it’s going to benefit me...I’m really grateful for going over there, getting the opportunity to learn and now to come back and work on my craft and hopefully have a good season."
When he first joined Manly, Metcalf was playing more in the halves but across the last 12 months he has been working on transitioning into a fullback.
He worked extensively with Trbojevic on his game and in his first runout for Cronulla last Friday, he was given the number one jersey in their trial against the Dragons.
Will Kennedy played fullback for the majority of the year for Cronulla in 2020 and despite a solid year, he by no means has a lock on the position.
Metcalf knows the fullback role could be up for grabs but he has another goal first.
"I’m just looking to play consistent footy because I haven’t played much footy over the last couple of years," Metcalf said.
"I don’t mind where it is, I just want to play good and know that I’m putting my best foot forward and see what happens throughout the year.
"I hope I get to make my debut. I want to try and get as many games in the top grade as I can."
Going to a new club can be daunting but there's a real sense of familiarity for Metcalf as he returns to Cronulla.
Not only is he used to the facilities and environment, but a core group of their current senior squad are also players he played with in his first stint in the Shire.
In 2017, he played in the SG Ball Grand Final for the Sharks with the likes of Ronaldo Mulitalo, Teig Wilton, Franklin Pele and the suspended Bronson Xerri.
He has also played plenty of football with hooker Blayke Brailey in the junior representative levels as well.
Getting to play with those familiar faces was a big drawcard to return to Cronulla for Metcalf, but arguably even bigger was knowing he'd be under the tutelage of John Morris who he worked under in the Sharks' junior system.
"Nearly half the squad I knew all the boys because I played Harold Matts and SG Ball, the 20s with all the boys," Metcalf said.
"It sort of made my transition coming back a bit easier knowing half the squad.
"When I was over at Manly, seeing boys like Teig (Wilton) and Blayke (Brailey) who I played in Harold Matts and SG Ball with, players like Ronaldo (Mulitalo) all them boys, all starting to come up it was good to see.
"I had Bomber (Morris) in 15s development and then in Harold Matts, SG Ball and then I had him as my main head coach in U20s the year before I left.
"He’s really good, that was one of the things coming back, I’ve been able to come back and be coached by Bomber, I know what he’s about, I know what he’s like.
"Being able to come and learn under him again. It felt like my footy was good when I was back here at Cronulla so I’m hoping I can have a good season under him."
Considering how long he's been on the radar, it feels as though Metcalf has already played a handful of NRL games.
He looked at home for the Sharks in their first trial, finishing the match with three try assists on the back of his quick hands running around the back of the halves.
There's a strong chance Metcalf could make his NRL debut at fullback for the Sharks in their first-round match against the Dragons, even though he feels as though he could have made it already while at Manly.
But he knows it will be even more special if he gets to make his debut at the club he spent so many years at surrounded by his close mates.
"That would be really cool [to make my debut at Cronulla]," Metcalf said.
"Especially because half the boys I’ve played with before so it would be cool to do it around them.
)Luke Metcalf returns to Cronulla Sharks with a point to prove after disappointing stint at Manly
WRITTEN BY
LACHLAN MCKIRD
After spending three disappointing seasons at Manly, Luke Metcalf has returned to the Cronulla Sharks ready to make his mark and earn that elusive NRL debut.
The electric 21-year-old set tongues wagging across the NRL after a blistering tournament at the Perth Nines for the Sea Eagles in 2020.
His raw pace and game awareness had many excited to see what impact he could make in first grade.
However, even with injuries throughout the year to star fullback Tom Trbojevic and five-eighth Dylan Walker, Manly coach Des Hasler never turned to Metcalf.
MORE: Which NRL club with a new coach will improve most in 2021?
The COVID-19 disrupted season meant there was no opportunity for Metcalf to shine in the NSW Cup and prove his worth in reserve grade.
As a result, it was a frustrating 12 months of waking up at 5 am, beginning his daily commute from Engadine to Narrabeen and continually left wanting for a first-grade chance.
And there's no doubt that Metcalf left everything on the training paddock trying to impress Hasler and the Manly coaching staff.
Metcalf suffered an ACL injury in 2019 which ruled him out for the season and he was determined to bounce back.
Manly missed the finals in 2020 and as the end of the season rolled around, Metcalf was told there wouldn't be a new contract waiting for him.
After three years with the Sea Eagles, it was a bitter blow but he is able to see the silver lining of it all now that he's back with his junior club.
"Yeah I was a little bit (disappointed)," Metcalf told Sporting News.
"The year before I tore my ACL at the start of the season and then came back in the Nines.
"But then coronavirus sort of messed things up. I would have liked to have capitalise on it and make my debut and play a few games in the NRL but it didn’t work out how I thought it would go.
"I think in the end, it could just be a blessing in disguise and I think I’m going to learn from it and learn how the year went. I’ll take that in with a bit of a chip on my shoulder and I’m ready to go into this season."
While Metcalf doesn't explicitly feel as though he has a point to prove to his old side, there's no doubting that it's added motivation for him to make the most of his new opportunity at Cronulla.
But if he does succeed back in the Shire, he knows that a lot of that is down to his development at Manly.
He joined the Northern Beaches club to learn from the best and now he's ready to take that development and put it into practice.
"I went over there to learn off people like Daly Cherry-Evans, Tom Trbojevic and boys like that," Metcalf said.
"I feel like it made me a bit of a better football player on the education side of things. Being able to go over there and learn off them guys.
"In the long run it’s going to benefit me...I’m really grateful for going over there, getting the opportunity to learn and now to come back and work on my craft and hopefully have a good season."
When he first joined Manly, Metcalf was playing more in the halves but across the last 12 months he has been working on transitioning into a fullback.
He worked extensively with Trbojevic on his game and in his first runout for Cronulla last Friday, he was given the number one jersey in their trial against the Dragons.
Will Kennedy played fullback for the majority of the year for Cronulla in 2020 and despite a solid year, he by no means has a lock on the position.
Metcalf knows the fullback role could be up for grabs but he has another goal first.
"I’m just looking to play consistent footy because I haven’t played much footy over the last couple of years," Metcalf said.
"I don’t mind where it is, I just want to play good and know that I’m putting my best foot forward and see what happens throughout the year.
"I hope I get to make my debut. I want to try and get as many games in the top grade as I can."
Going to a new club can be daunting but there's a real sense of familiarity for Metcalf as he returns to Cronulla.
Not only is he used to the facilities and environment, but a core group of their current senior squad are also players he played with in his first stint in the Shire.
In 2017, he played in the SG Ball Grand Final for the Sharks with the likes of Ronaldo Mulitalo, Teig Wilton, Franklin Pele and the suspended Bronson Xerri.
He has also played plenty of football with hooker Blayke Brailey in the junior representative levels as well.
Getting to play with those familiar faces was a big drawcard to return to Cronulla for Metcalf, but arguably even bigger was knowing he'd be under the tutelage of John Morris who he worked under in the Sharks' junior system.
"Nearly half the squad I knew all the boys because I played Harold Matts and SG Ball, the 20s with all the boys," Metcalf said.
"It sort of made my transition coming back a bit easier knowing half the squad.
"When I was over at Manly, seeing boys like Teig (Wilton) and Blayke (Brailey) who I played in Harold Matts and SG Ball with, players like Ronaldo (Mulitalo) all them boys, all starting to come up it was good to see.
"I had Bomber (Morris) in 15s development and then in Harold Matts, SG Ball and then I had him as my main head coach in U20s the year before I left.
"He’s really good, that was one of the things coming back, I’ve been able to come back and be coached by Bomber, I know what he’s about, I know what he’s like.
"Being able to come and learn under him again. It felt like my footy was good when I was back here at Cronulla so I’m hoping I can have a good season under him."
Considering how long he's been on the radar, it feels as though Metcalf has already played a handful of NRL games.
He looked at home for the Sharks in their first trial, finishing the match with three try assists on the back of his quick hands running around the back of the halves.
There's a strong chance Metcalf could make his NRL debut at fullback for the Sharks in their first-round match against the Dragons, even though he feels as though he could have made it already while at Manly.
But he knows it will be even more special if he gets to make his debut at the club he spent so many years at surrounded by his close mates.
"That would be really cool [to make my debut at Cronulla]," Metcalf said.
"Especially because half the boys I’ve played with before so it would be cool to do it around them.
stormshark
Jaws
And what better example ie Development comments, than NOT to flick the Coach that developed local Jnrs, and others, through the grades.(and has made finals in a mixed bag team)
I can imagine it is a bit disappointing playing with all these guys growing up and then he goes to Manly (that's bad enough) and doesn't get to play meanwhile heaps of his former teammates are getting runs with Sharks.
egg
Jaws
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I want him on our bench next weekend.
Perfect backline sub if required.
If we lost a halve , he can play there at a pinch .
Obviously Fullback and Wing easily.
Plus X factor with his speed if we need that too.
Last edited:
TheMexican
Tiger Shark
This can't be the only Luke Metcalf thread. No posts between Feb last year and today? He played some good games towards the end of last season.