Official Luke Metcalf
- Thread starter Proud Shark
- Start date
CrazyMatt
Jaws
Watching this place turn on him halfway through next season if he isn’t delivering will be quite disappointing but not entirely surprising, this place isn’t known for its patience.
If the club does the right thing by him and gives him a halves partner that compliments his game and lets him show his best qualities, then theres a very good chance we’ll be ok. Nothing like this is certain in football, all the club can do is surround him with the right people to maximise his impact on the game, the rest is up to him.
Cage
Bull Shark
Dopelicate
Capital_Shark
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Disappointing but not unexpected.
At least now we don't have to feel bad about leaving him out of the 17.
egg
Jaws
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Metcalf to link with Warriors from 2023
AuthorRichard Becht & photosport.nzTimestampMon 15 Nov 2021, 09:59 AMSigning formalities have completed for Cronulla-Sutherland rookie Luke Metcalf to join the Vodafone Warriors for the 2023 and 2024 NRL seasons.
The 22-year-old, off contract with the Sharks at the end of the 2022 season, made his NRL debut this year while he was still on a development contract.His first outing was against his former club Manly Warringah in round 20 when he came into the Cronulla squad after returning Vodafone Warriors favourite Shaun Johnson was ruled out for the last six rounds of the regular season.
“Luke was really impressive when he came into the NRL late in the season,” said Vodafone Warriors head coach Nathan Brown.
“He had to wait for his chance after seeing next to no football in 2020 because of Covid but he showed just why he has been so highly regarded coming through the grades with both the Sharks and Manly.”
Metcalf’s second appearance was against the Vodafone Warriors, when he was used off the interchange for only the last three minutes of a contest his side lost 16-18.
In his fourth game, he was a standout scoring two tries, creating another and making 124 metres in Cronulla’s 50-20 win over the Wests Tigers.
“With Luke we’ve been able to sign another terrific young talent,” said Vodafone Warriors CEO Cameron George.
“He has been on our radar for some time and will add huge value to our club from 2023.”
After coming through the age grades with the Sharks, Metcalf was with Manly Warringah in 2018, 2019 and 2020 before returning to Cronulla this year.
An ACL knee injury ruined his 2019 season before he returned to represent Manly at the NRL Nines in Perth only to then be reduced to spending the Covid-impacted 2020 campaign in a training-only role.
Throughout his career Metcalf has stood out as a strike weapon. Able to play at fullback as well as in the halves, he represented New South Wales at both under-16 and under-18 level during an outstanding junior career which included him scoring 19 tries and kicking 61 goals in just 21 games for Cronulla’s S G Ball Cup under-18 side in 2016 and 2017. In all games at all levels from under-16s up he has a total of 63 tries in 89 matches.
As I said previously I don't think first time NRL coach Fitz was really in a position he wanted to be bending to the contract demands of a 6 game 22 year old with bad knees who had yet to even set foot on the training paddock for him.
With patience I think he likely could have got a reasonable offer from us and had a better idea where he stood in terms of our squad, but also Warriors and even perhaps some other teams, but contract on the table from Warriors obviously too good to pass on, and more than Fitz could sensibly agree to at this stage.
With patience I think he likely could have got a reasonable offer from us and had a better idea where he stood in terms of our squad, but also Warriors and even perhaps some other teams, but contract on the table from Warriors obviously too good to pass on, and more than Fitz could sensibly agree to at this stage.
egg
Jaws
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Yeah , agree
SF
Mako Shark
I just wish we had used him properly for the Storm game. We may have made the finals, and he may have been inclined to stay. Such a waste!
stormshark
Jaws
Metcalf started against Brisbane (14th) and Tigers (13th). Playing the same quality against Storm (1st) is far from a sure thing.
Throw in that Hannay is still assistant coach if Metcalf is keen to throw away his time with Sharks (9th) to go to Warriors (12th) because he knew better than the coach and is the man to beat Storm then not surprised they’d let him walk.
Moylan being retained an extra year and replacing him v Storm probably come into consideration but I still think money and perceived future opportunity are the main elements of his decision.
Remember Godcoach Fitz was contracted months before Moylan was retained, he was clearly happy to keep him. Everything Metcalf has unfolded since.
We gave Trindall 2 votes in that storm game. Danger of him being stuck behind Trindall and Hynes surely must be at least as much of an issue as Moylan (if not more as moylan has an end date).
I wouldn’t think if we’d started him in that game we necessarily win or he necessarily stays if he wanted to sign a contract before he even went back to pre season
Throw in that Hannay is still assistant coach if Metcalf is keen to throw away his time with Sharks (9th) to go to Warriors (12th) because he knew better than the coach and is the man to beat Storm then not surprised they’d let him walk.
Moylan being retained an extra year and replacing him v Storm probably come into consideration but I still think money and perceived future opportunity are the main elements of his decision.
Remember Godcoach Fitz was contracted months before Moylan was retained, he was clearly happy to keep him. Everything Metcalf has unfolded since.
We gave Trindall 2 votes in that storm game. Danger of him being stuck behind Trindall and Hynes surely must be at least as much of an issue as Moylan (if not more as moylan has an end date).
I wouldn’t think if we’d started him in that game we necessarily win or he necessarily stays if he wanted to sign a contract before he even went back to pre season
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
D
Deleted member 3365
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I thought he would've pushed for a spot this year during pre-season and trials.
Tiger Shark
Jaws
I don’t think a starting spot was on the cards but potentially bench, but that might be Moylans regardless
Hangi on a minute
D
Deleted member 3365
Guest
Well atleast give himself a chance to push for a spot. Who knows he could've out performed Trindall, Tracey or Moylan throughout pre-season and the trials.
Oh well, win some you and you lose some, to be honest I would've like to see him in the centre's but whatever.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
How much would you have been willing to pay him though?
Wiz
Jaws
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You happily give him 250 this year and 250-3 next.
Same amount if not less then what we paid Connor Tracey even though Metcalf already looks the better player (in fullback/halves)
It's crazy. Now if Kennedy or Hynes go down we rely on Moylan or Tracey to have to play fullback or halves. Silly because neither of them can play fullback and only one of them can play halves when he isn't on one leg