The Warriors have released a statement on the future of dropped playmaker Luke Metcalf who is free to explore his options for 2027 despite being contracted until the end of 2028.
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“The One New Zealand Warriors have acceded to a request from Luke Metcalf’s management to engage with other NRL clubs regarding his playing future from 2027 and beyond,” the club said in a statement.
“We will not make any further comment on this matter until a further update is provided by Luke and or his management,” said One New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George.
Gun playmaker Metcalf is being tipped to leave the club at season’s end with his role at the Warriors up in the air.
Due to Tanah Boyd being super impressive at halfback this season in Metcalf’s absence, leading the Warriors to second on the ladder, Code Sports reports that Metcalf has now requested permission from the club to explore his options for next season and will hit the open market.
It is understood that the Warriors will give him the green light to do so.
This comes as he has failed to crack the starting team in recent weeks and has instead been named on the six-man bench in favour of Boyd.
Subsequently, 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 – which he has now done.
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.”
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.
Originally published as New Zealand Warriors’ frosty response as Luke Metcalf seeks exit
