General Is the Metcalf experience to halves over?

[John Nick]

Lots of negatives and I am not 100 % convinced yet. However nobody that I have read has mentioned the great catch and put down for a good try.
Or the 40/20. that gave us field position

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

I'm pro Metcalf, but in no way 100% convinced. To me it's a case of high ceiling/low floor.

If he raises that floor (more consistent execution of halfback duties/kicking duties), we are in the money.

If not, then we start again.

Regardless, this question will not be answered overnight.

The Storm wasn't built in a day.

 

[Beastmode]

Lots of negatives and I am not 100 % convinced yet. However nobody that I have read has mentioned the great catch and put down for a good try.
Or the 40/20. that gave us field position

Yeah but come on
Your a half back
Catching a ball is your bread and butter
You get no credit for something you’re expected to know how to do

40/20.. that was pretty flukey… but glad he pulled it off.. a couple of cm and it’s out on the full

I can see they are targeting him on defense…
They used to shuffle SJ to the wing on D.. not saying they need to for LM but close to the line he’s a liability that close

 

[El Chuckie]

I’m soaking up the win
Looking at how he back upped Cappers for that try
And stepping up to take the winning goal
Keep attacking Luke get more confidence
While you out there next to CHT
Tell him to have a go sometimes too
Good on ya mate
Throw a nothing prawn on the barbie

His backing up for that try was pretty hilarious stuff. When he realised Capes was going to give it a crack himself, you could almost sense Metcalf sigh in resignation -"Bro, just give it to me now and I'll finish it" - but then he got himself in good position by drifting a bit wider, and basically jogged at about half pace until Capewell inevitably got hauled down (by Hetherington, I think...).

 

[Beastmode]

His backing up for that try was pretty hilarious stuff. When he realised Capes was going to give it a crack himself, you could almost sense Metcalf sigh in resignation -"Bro, just give it to me now and I'll finish it" - but then he got himself in good position by drifting a bit wider, and basically jogged at about half pace until Capewell inevitably got hauled down (by Hetherington, I think...).

Yeah that was good winger/ Full back instincts by Luke to get his position and timing right..

 

[Damo]

Yeah but come on
Your a half back
Catching a ball is your bread and butter
You get no credit for something you’re expected to know how to do

40/20.. that was pretty flukey… but glad he pulled it off.. a couple of cm and it’s out on the full

I can see they are targeting him on defense…
They used to shuffle SJ to the wing on D.. not saying they need to for LM but close to the line he’s a liability that close

Being a bit tough on Metcalf here, it was a low catch but glad he got it.
I would agree about the 40/20 being flukey if he didn't nail two in pre-season also. Obviously something he has been working on

 

[John Nick]

Being a bit tough on Metcalf here, it was a low catch but glad he got it.
I would agree about the 40/20 being flukey if he didn't nail two in pre-season also. Obviously something he has been working on

These types of plays are only flukey if you didn't mean to do it.

 

[CWC]

Remember blowing up at the ref when Willison caught the ball from offside, crucial

Good to see him putting in a grubber now too. 40/20 was the first for the team for like 2 years?

That catch and try in the wet at full flight lol come one guys it was a shit pass, it’s Dallin-esque sticky hands, same with Kosi’s people think it’s a given in that condition for a back up winger

 

[CWC]

These types of plays are only flukey if you didn't mean to do it.

Reynolds and Walsh got theirs wrong so he did alright, ended in a try too I think

 

[Beastmode]

Remember blowing up at the ref when Willison caught the ball from offside, crucial

Good to see him putting in a grubber now too. 40/20 was the first for the team for like 2 years?

That catch and try in the wet at full flight lol come one guys it was a shit pass, it’s Dallin-esque sticky hands, same with Kosi’s people think it’s a given in that condition for a back up winger

Two disallowed tries
Williamson offside
Cobbo forward pass?

Winning the toss in GP

The rugby gods favoured us for once

 

[Ref]

At what point I wonder did Webby start planning to win the comp in 2027.
Or maybe fast forward to 2026 if everything falls into place.
Maybe at the end of 2023 he knew the current crop were going to fall over before the juniors were ready.
He knows what TMM can do and has to offer him enough money to keep him here for 2 more years as the main half back up.
TMM Is an instant quality fill in.
Arguably as good or better than the incumbents but that’s beside the point with what Webby is trying to do.

 

[John Nick]

Remember blowing up at the ref when Willison caught the ball from offside, crucial

Good to see him putting in a grubber now too. 40/20 was the first for the team for like 2 years?

That catch and try in the wet at full flight lol come one guys it was a shit pass, it’s Dallin-esque sticky hands, same with Kosi’s people think it’s a given in that condition for a back up winger

I will have to watch the replay but I am pretty sure that Carrigan wasn't square at ptb leading to their first try.
Sure it means fuck all now but if we are picking holes..

 

[Bay39er]

I will have to watch the replay but I am pretty sure that Carrigan wasn't square at ptb leading to their first try.
Sure it means fuck all now but if we are picking holes..

and how many were inside the 10 when Metcalf was taking his DG attempt

It was Willison who PTB for their first try

 

[John Nick]

and how many were inside the 10 when Metcalfe was taking his DG attempt

It was Willison who PTB for their first try

Cheers Bay my mistake. I will blame the Sav.

 

[Noitall]

SJ’s reaction in the crowd was all to do with Metcalf I reckon, along with the win obviously but there’s a lot of SJ’s traits starting to emerge in Metcalf. Think there’s a real mentor/understudy relationship between the two

 

[Cces]

All offseason I wanted a genuine #7 signing. The signing of Boyd didn't provide any inspiration & I would have settled for Volkman's return. Eventually I wanted Webster to get Metcalf to pick his preferred side of the field to defend on & work from there. It's been far from perfect but we're sitting in 4th.
Metcalf might not be the guy long term but no one conclusively knows either way yet. A 6 game sample is far too small. In 6 games times we probably still won't know.

What I have liked so far is his increased involvement. He's gone from 35'ish touches per game in 2024 to 45'ish. CHT has had more receipts in 4 of our 6 games but it's an increase nonetheless & shows progress.
The try assists haven't been flowing with just 2 but he's had 3 different Centre's so far and 2 different Fullbacks on the sweep. He doesn’t engage the line often but that stat isn't of great importance to me as shown by SJ doing it 6.6 times a game in our successful 2023 then up to 10.2 pg in a forgettable 2024. Quality over quantity.
I previously thought he had a poor long kicking game. I was wrong. He's obviously been getting plenty of reps in. A career high 93m in a game before this year & is now averaging 312m per game & a genuine 40/20 threat to opposition teams.

 

[Noitall]

All offseason I wanted a genuine #7 signing. The signing of Boyd didn't provide any inspiration & I would have settled for Volkman's return. Eventually I wanted Webster to get Metcalf to pick his preferred side of the field to defend on & work from there. It's been far from perfect but we're sitting in 4th.
Metcalf might not be the guy long term but no one conclusively knows either way yet. A 6 game sample is far too small. In 6 games times we probably still won't know.

What I have like so far is his increased involvement. He's gone from 35'ish touches per game to 45'ish. CHT has had more receipts in 4 of our 6 games but it's an increase nonetheless & shows progress.
The try assists haven't been flowing with just 2 but he's had 3 different Centre's so far and 2 different Fullbacks on the sweep. He doesn’t engage the line often but that stat isn't of great importance to me as shown by SJ doing it 6.6 times a game in our successful 2023 then up to 10.2 pg in a forgettable 2024. Quality over quantity.
I previously thought he had a poor long kicking game. I was wrong. He's obviously been getting plenty of reps in. A career high 93m in a game before this year & is now averaging 312m per game & a genuine 40/20 threat to opposition teams.

Think it needs to be put in perspective too the calibre of halves pairings that they’ve got victories over, all while having some important players to the side injured along the way. Wouldn’t necessarily say they’ve outplayed all of them, but it’s a good team dynamic that’s showing through. You can see the players behind him and really offering encouragement in everything he does

 

[Noitall]

https://www.couriermail.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=CMWEB_MRE170_a_GGN&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.couriermail.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fthe-tackle-michael-maguires-telling-halves-admission-as-the-broncos-face-first-real-litmus-test-against-bulldogs%2Fnews-story%2Fe1b48240db5f7bf3665243fd9d9405a2&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=HIGH-Segment-2-SCORE

Behind a paywall unfortunately, but he’s a big fan of emulating celebrations that he sees in other sports

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

So if we deteriorate in the halves and start losing we continue with the combo?
I get what you’re saying with the lack of halves coming up the next few years but I don’t believe we should continue with something that’s not working.
I hope we do continue to grow but I won’t give these 2 the keys for the rest of the year if it’s not working, there would be a time to change it up.
Hopefully that doesn’t happen.

Every player/combo will go through a slump.

The alternative question still remains.
Who else?
Boyd? Honestly. IMO, he can go to North Queensland.
TMM would be all good, but two things.
1. He’s older and has less upside IMO.
2. I feel at the right price we might be able to keep him. Or pull him back if he goes elsewhere anyway.
(Hey if we can sign Hughes or N Cleary…… later Metcalf)

The only thing I’m concerned with is he can negotiate from November. And if he’s gets even a little better (which with consistent game time , surely) I can think of at least 3 NSW clubs that might have a good crack.

I kinda want the club to start negotiations now to extend him till at least 2028, to make an early call. Similar to the Tigers and Galvin.

Tiger must have seen the writing on the wall, and must have thought “if he doesn’t sign this massive deal, he ain’t staying. And we have to move on” luckily for the they have a great young half in Latu Fainu.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Not a metcalf fan. At 7 anyway. Drifts in and out of games to much. Erin had to yell at him vs Bronx one part there. As he was at the back unsure where he was supposed to be on a set play. Everyone was in their positions except him.
And it happens often.

In saying that, Would like to see him to stay with the club and own a position. Whether its FB, 6 or 7. Has obvious speed & talent.