Player Luke Metcalf

[sydneywarrior92]

Any future premiership window we have will revolve around LM at HB. We can build a dynasty around him, the young forwards coming through (Leka, Demi, Laban, etc) for many years to come. We might not win 4 premierships in a row, but we'll finally become the juggernaut that we've all been waiting 30 years for. If it costs us 1M-1.5M to make that happen, I say give it to him.

 

[John Nick]

Any future premiership window we have will revolve around LM at HB. We can build a dynasty around him, the young forwards coming through (Leka, Demi, Laban, etc) for many years to come. We might not win 4 premierships in a row, but we'll finally become the juggernaut that we've all been waiting 30 years for. If it costs us 1M-1.5M to make that happen, I say give it to him.

For certain because if we don't someone else will especially with expansion around the corner

 

[Leighton Rhino]

Might be a funny question about if Luke continues living in NZ...

If he never gets the nod for origin or Roos would NZ ever consider picking him for Kiwis? Would he want to?

I think the naturalization process criteria is only living there for 3 years or something?

 

[roguei]

Might be a funny question about if Luke continues living in NZ...

If he never gets the nod for origin or Roos would NZ ever consider picking him for Kiwis? Would he want to?

I think the naturalization process criteria is only living there for 3 years or something?

I think we're still trying to convince egan now that he's eligible .

 

[Warriors55]

Definitely need to lock Luke up for the next few seasons. After seeing him in pre-season this year I knew he was going to kill it. Hopefully he has bought into the vision and culture that Webby is creating enough so that we dont need to pay him 1.2m. We also shouldn't low ball him either and risk him signing elsewhere (don't think we would) 3 year deal 1-1.1m per season win win for everyone.

When you think Jahrome Hughes is only on $800k and about to resign with the Storm for 1m (even though he could get more elsewhere), that is what we want with Luke.
Then we hope that he can continue developing further and stays mainly injury free. Injury free worries me the most.

If the Bears have 1.6m to spend on a halfback that is very concerning for other clubs considering the lack of elite halves on the market. I feel like they would prefer a proven marquee signing at 7 rather than someone showing potential (which is why they went after Hughes so hard) but we shouldn't be complacent especially because they don't look like getting Hughes. Luke must know we are a strong premiership threat over the next few seasons and would want to be a part of that.

I am still unsure whether we should go up to 1.2m+ if needed. Without him we are not a premiership threat currently so I would lean towards paying him the money but when you think Cleary is on 1.3m and Hughes 1m, we might be crazy going up that high unless the rest of our cap is expertly managed. The risk is that if you go that high and he gets injured long-term early in the season, your season is in big trouble (admittedly we do have depth in that position at the moment but no one near that level). We need him.

This is the most crucial contract extension we need to get right. Interested what other people think and what value they place on having him in the side.

Ideally 3 year deal 1m per season would be great and a big upgrade on his current deal.

 

[John Nick]

Definitely need to lock Luke up for the next few seasons. After seeing him in pre-season this year I knew he was going to kill it. Hopefully he has bought into the vision and culture that Webby is creating enough so that we dont need to pay him 1.2m. We also shouldn't low ball him either and risk him signing elsewhere (don't think we would) 3 year deal 1-1.1m per season win win for everyone.

When you think Jahrome Hughes is only on $800k and about to resign with the Storm for 1m (even though he could get more elsewhere), that is what we want with Luke.
Then we hope that he can continue developing further and stays mainly injury free. Injury free worries me the most.

If the Bears have 1.6m to spend on a halfback that is very concerning for other clubs considering the lack of elite halves on the market. I feel like they would prefer a proven marquee signing at 7 rather than someone showing potential (which is why they went after Hughes so hard) but we shouldn't be complacent especially because they don't look like getting Hughes. Luke must know we are a strong premiership threat over the next few seasons and would want to be a part of that.

I am still unsure whether we should go up to 1.2m+ if needed. Without him we are not a premiership threat currently so I would lean towards paying him the money but when you think Cleary is on 1.3m and Hughes 1m, we might be crazy going up that high unless the rest of our cap is expertly managed. The risk is that if you go that high and he gets injured long-term early in the season, your season is in big trouble (admittedly we do have depth in that position at the moment but no one near that level). We need him.

This is the most crucial contract extension we need to get right. Interested what other people think and what value they place on having him in the side.

Ideally 3 year deal 1m per season would be great and a big upgrade on his current deal.

We have seen this stuff play out already with D.Brown and Knights signing for 1.2m
I think that the Knights are already doubtful about the deal and he hasn't even joined yet

 

[Warriors55]

We have seen this stuff play out already with D.Brown and Knights signing for 1.2m
I think that the Knights are already doubtful about the deal and he hasn't even joined yet

Definitely but I think the big difference with Dylan is that no one knows how he is going to go in the Knights system but we know Luke is killing it in this Warriors setup.

You are right though, teams can easily regret those big signings when they are out of form. That is why a 3 year deal for Luke is good for everyone. If his form drops off or he gets badly injured we are not locked in for too long and on his side, in 3 years he will still be near his prime and can still demand big money for his next deal (whether with us or elsewhere).

I can't help but think we are building something special with him over the next few seasons.

As a side note I can remember a few years back on the forum Mitchel Moses was on the market and most people were against signing him for big money (including me) and he was in terrible form but he became a better player at the Eels. Glad we didn't sign him but he was a good signing for the Eels (despite their current form). Him and Brown should have been a premiership contending combination this year. They just lack good enough cattle in other positions.

 

[Makasene]

Man can't believe the media chat that if Cleary is ruled out of origin 3 it's between Katoa & Metcalf.

Love Met but he ain't ready for Origin.

 

[Warriors55]

Man can't believe the media chat that if Cleary is ruled out of origin 3 it's between Katoa & Metcalf.

Love Met but he ain't ready for Origin.

Agreed. Plus, I don't think it is in our best interests if he plays Origin this year. Could be a great thing if he kills it and NSW win but it could also wreck his confidence if things don't go well and derail our season. You would never deny him the opportunity though.

It looks like Cleary is going to be fit anyway so shouldn't be an issue. You would think they would go Luai and Cleary for game 3 or even Burton and Cleary.

If Cleary is not fit they must be considering a Burton and Luai combo as well before thinking about Metcalf or Katoa.

 

[roguei]

Agreed. Plus, I don't think it is in our best interests if he plays Origin this year. Could be a great thing if he kills it and NSW win but it could also wreck his confidence if things don't go well and derail our season. You would never deny him the opportunity though.

It looks like Cleary is going to be fit anyway so shouldn't be an issue. You would think they would go Luai and Cleary for game 3 or even Burton and Cleary.

If Cleary is not fit they must be considering a Burton and Luai combo as well before thinking about Metcalf or Katoa.

Weirdly it feels like getting picked by NSW as a half stunts your club level impact. Cleary now carrying an injury, Moses this year, and last year. Hynes getting the yips.

 

[Damo]

Weirdly it feels like getting picked by NSW as a half stunts your club level impact. Cleary now carrying an injury, Moses this year, and last year. Hynes getting the yips.

Hopefully they pick Reynolds then

 

[Warriors55]

Weirdly it feels like getting picked by NSW as a half stunts your club level impact. Cleary now carrying an injury, Moses this year, and last year. Hynes getting the yips.

It is a bit of a poisoned chalice at the moment. Regarding Hynes, he looks like a shell of the player he used to be. His confidence looks shot and Trindall is taking the reins of that team currently.

The NSW media is absolutely brutal especially regarding players who play in the halves for NSW and fail. Even Luai is feeling that at the moment even though he had an ok game.

Metcalf doesn't need that at the moment. Maybe in a year or two but from a selfish perspective I hope he does not get picked.

There is also another possibility. He plays origin and absolutely kills it. NSW clubs will then be scrambling to sign him and we would have to pay big overs to keep him.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Man can't believe the media chat that if Cleary is ruled out of origin 3 it's between Katoa & Metcalf.

Love Met but he ain't ready for Origin.

Give it to Nico

 

[Tookey 2.0]

It is a bit of a poisoned chalice at the moment. Regarding Hynes, he looks like a shell of the player he used to be. His confidence looks shot and Trindall is taking the reins of that team currently.

The NSW media is absolutely brutal especially regarding players who play in the halves for NSW and fail. Even Luai is feeling that at the moment even though he had an ok game.

Metcalf doesn't need that at the moment. Maybe in a year or two but from a selfish perspective I hope he does not get picked.

There is also another possibility. He plays origin and absolutely kills it. NSW clubs will then be scrambling to sign him and we would have to pay big overs to keep him.

I think if we go deep into finals this year, and Metcalf starts next year well and there's an injury or 2 for NSW he'd be seriously considered.

To be fair, Metcalf has had some terrible half plays at times this year, and his kicking has been poor at times but it hasnt impacted his confidence, so I don't think there's much that will knock him even if he did get picked and played poorly.