Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf’s season is over due to a familiar injury

Tuesday, 1 July 2025

Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf knows what it takes to return from a season-ending knee injury.

Scans have confirmed Metcalf ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during the club’s 26-12 loss to the Broncos last Saturday night.

Metcalf, who was leading the NRL’s Dally M points when voting went into secrecy after 12 rounds, will not play again this season, with the recovery time-line being between nine and 12 months.

The 26-year-old suffered the same injury in his left knee back in 2019.

“Been here before and I’ll be back again,” Metcalf has posted to social media.

In his latest ACL injury, Metcalf was forced from the field with 15 minutes to play after being hit hard by a tackle from Brendan Piakura that saw his knee buckle.

Sky Sport's Richie Barnett says Luke Metcalf’s injury is a massive loss for the Warriors. He praises Metcalf’s rise this season and weighs up who might wear the No.7 jersey next.

Piakura’s tackle, which was marginally late, was placed on report but he was not charged by the match review committee.

With the cruel timing of his injury, Metcalf will be under a cloud for the start of the 2026 season and critically, still be working with the rehab group during the all-important pre-season.

Former Kiwis captain Richie Barnett called the news “really sad” after what had already been a “massive” season for Metcalf.

“He is going to be a huge loss in terms of the shape that they show and the style of play that he plays,” he told ThreeNews.

Metcalf, who is only contracted until the end of the 2026 season, had done really well to fill the shoes of retired star halfback Sean Johnson, and had understood what it was like to be a leader in a key position, Barnett said.

Luke Metcalf is helped off the field during the Warriors’ loss to the Broncos.

“He has done it really well in terms of learning, trying to understand. He has delivered all season, he has managed the team around,” he said. “He is crafty with what he is doing, his kicking game is on point, and his running game has started to develop nicely.”

Barnett tipped Tanah Boyd to come into the halfback position from the Warriors New South Wales cup team and for them to continue to use Te Maire Martin off the bench in a utility role.

The news on Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who also suffered a knee injury against the Broncos, is more positive.

Scans have revealed he has a moderate lateral collateral ligament (LCL) sprain in his left knee. Nicoll-Klokstad is expected to be out for four weeks and return for the round 21 match against the Titans on July 26.

Just on a month ago, Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett also suffered a season-ending rupture of the ACL.

Andrew Webster’s side have their third and final bye in round 18 this week but won’t get the services of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak back until somewhere between rounds 20 and 22, with centre Ali Leiataua also due back in the same time-frame.