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    I think people keep forgetting that one of the major drivers for Metcalf to stay has been taken away i.e. the 'high' of playing week in week out as the star player for the club and the buzz of being part of the Warriors dream in the daily gratification sense.

    There is an immediacy that comes from running out every weekend that just isn't there anymore (till next year).

    The guy has nothing but time on his hands, time to think, evaluate, talk with his supports.
    I keep reading people framing this as the club being in the box seat (I was one who advocated that position a lot too, but that was while he was playing/status active) the calculus has changed, the Warriors will need to change with it.

    • These Maxims of Warrior Lore are Universal and underpin all the talk:
    • It is impossible to get a Dally M candidate Australian half to the Warriors unless they were developed within the Warriors system with maximum incentives to stay
    • Any Australian can walk out the door tomorrow - it is called compassionate release, and the Warriors have shown they will only contest a portion of the season that the player is playing when the release is requested, because they cannot afford to play hard ball beyond that. Ergo if the Warriors do not approach the deal in good faith and put their best foot forward they will sour the vibe for Metcalf and might as well stick their eight hundred K where the sun doesn't shine, because a unhappy Metcalf is a gone Metcalf.
    • If the Warriors were to somehow attract a Dally M candidate from Australia to play number seven, a top in form Australian half, in the frame for SOO, then the bidding starts at 2 million dollars a season.
    Does the individuals talent lead to competition wide recognition or does the team success, coaching, structure and winning football make a player look good.

    Chicken or egg?

    SJ generally aced it under Webster (when not injured); TMM looked legendary when taking over, Metcalf has looked a world beater and I back Boyd to look like the missing piece as well when he gets a chance.

    Websters platform makes our halves look good.
     
    With Jahrome Hughes able to be negotiated with in November and the situation with Metcalf, would anyone think we should throw a big offer his way? Think you’d want him next year rather than 2027 when he’s off contract and would he get us through to a period where we’ve got guys ready to take over in the halves? Or is Metcalf our best bet?
    Speaking of halves, go watch Jack Thompson's highlights from today in Jersey Flegg. Kid is an absolute freak. He's leveling up going from U17 to U21 in one year. Trying to think of the last halves prospect we've had on this kid's level, more talented than SJ at the same age I would say.
     
    There’s no way Metcalf takes a 1 year extension, when he was leading the dally m votes before injury & has a huge ceiling, with other clubs entering the nrl desperate for a 7. It’ll be 2 years minimum, or he’ll walk. An acl is a freak injury, not a hammy, or recurring. Yes he’s snapped it before, but if you look at the mechanism of injury, it’s just pure bad luck. He needs to be retained for us to be any real threat of a premiership & he’s a priority.

    2 year extension on 800k I think is fair for all parties. I’d go higher if we need to, to get him over the line. Hes settled here, we gave him an opportunity when no one would & has improved dramatically under webby.
     
    He's quite a unique player in that, I don't think he has a higher ceiling than either of our top centre options (Berry, Ali) but he appears to be injury free, fast, and can play multiple positions.

    Id consider him on the cheap but we'd probably need to sink 500k + to get him here
    The two games he’s played at fullback were impressive results. 44-8 against bulldogs and 58-4 against cowboys. I’d take him over Berry at this point
     
    7. Boyd. Probably the best complete game manager in the team and will be able to carry out AW's gameplan which is all about territory, and pinning opposition in their own half.
    6. Chanel. This one should not even a debate. Why should he lose his position because his halves partner was injured?

    I wish TMM could be like a Lance Hohaia and be able to provide a meaningful impact when put into wherever he is as part of the utility role. I can totally understand why he is not required going forward. I would prefer to see Sam Healey in the utility role.

    Wish we could just rewind back a few weeks and not have the 3 key players injured as we currently do.
     
    Now that it's happened a second time (along with the leg break) there is definitely reason for concern about his recovery, but going into this season he did all the rehab needed, was looking great fitness wise for the first 15 rounds and was even talked up as an Origin bolter a couple of weeks ago form wise so it's understandable why he was chosen as SJ's successor. In the modern game the only half that has been miraculously unscathed is DCE, otherwise it's been a stacked casualty ward.
    It was fucking bad luck, which has nothing to do with the integrity of his body - i'm backing him to get back, he's shown the resilience already and there's no better place for him to show it again than mt smart - we've got a high quality player here who i think has the honour to give back to the club that has backed him - go well Luke, the force is strong with this one
     
    Five more sleeps until our NRLW girls kick off. Great to have our own team back on deck at last. And a club owner willing to invest.

    Kick off at 1:50pm NZT on Sunday afternoon vs the Roosters. (Hens..?) No doubting that will be a big challenge - but with Ronald Griffiths leading them, we have as good a chance as any to do well across the eleven rounds of their comp. With our men on a bye, they should get the spotlight for their first game at least.

    How good to have another Warriors team to follow?
     

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    woah, roughest take i think i've ever seen on this forum... I really feel for Luke, he was getting somewhere, in our system and right along side our other soldiers - we were getting there, it was promised - he's going to be here next year, with our rookies one more year experienced, tougher and taking back was was starting to be promised after the sharks game - the loyalty will pay off
    Let’s all take a back step for a moment
    Forget about resignings who plays where etc etc
    Lm has suffered a major injury
    Support is what he needs from us fans
    That’s it!
    Thinking of ya Lukey boy
    It’s only a game folks
    Remember that🤷🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️
     
    I don’t agree with this post. Maybe not offering him $1m a season, let’s put an injury discount in. However he’d more than proven he is a top quality half. Again I get that it’s also not his first ACL, but 7 years on & not linked to his recent hamstring issues. Absolutely we offer him a significantly upgraded deal. He’s not super young but still early in his NRL career & has plenty of great years ahead.

    As a social worker I try to see strengths in most situations.

    So here goes with Luka:
    He's 26, and due to injuries, Covid, as Sharks being c*nts by not releasing him to us that year early, has only played 41 games.

    What that probably means, is his body hasn't had to go through the rigours of 6+ years of being bashed around by big props, or 6 long af preseasons. His body should be relatively fresher than that of say, Isiah Katoa, when he is 26. What does that mean? Potentially hell be able to play on at a good level into his mid 30's (33/34).

    Not the same story, but Jahrome Hughes was a late bloomer and probably got to 40 odd games when he was 24-25ish. Look at how good he's gone with maturity and somewhat of a fresher body.

    Also, this now means that there's no way we'll be paying him a mil a season. From what I've seen, we've invested heavily into LM and if we continue to show him love and support and give him a decent pay increase (750k) I think he'll stay. And at the end of the day, if he leaves despite all that, there's fook all we can do about it.
     
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