NAS wont be joining the Warriors. Moving over to Boxing.
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Good on him.
Freddy Lussick seals Panthers deal
Penrith Panthers is pleased to confirm the signing of Freddy Lussick on a one-year deal for the 2026 season.www.penrithpanthers.com.au
I hope he manages a few games and sets himself up for a good deal in 2027
Nah, lodge was worse. Came over after his conviction, we gave him a lifeline via Peter O’Sullivan who was his father in law, when no one would touch him. We were forced to pay him $700000, after him and mark robinson had a falling out. Hes toxic through and through. Yes Kane evans was shit, embarrassing & a waste of time but at least he didn’t set us back financially & fuck our culture as much as lodge. Every club lodge has been to, he’s up to 6 now, has moved him on. Bloody handy player but clubs can’t deal with him.
He’s likely to get more game time but he ain’t starting while Egan is here.
Your dummy half touches the ball more than anyone else and egans one of the smartest getting around.
Luke Metcalf: Warriors star says he was never going to leave, despite wide NRL interest
Rumours of Luke Metcalf’s potential departure from the Warriors were greatly exaggerated.
The halfback, who signed a two-year extension at the end of last month, was the subject of some feverish speculation in the time before that. Various Australian media outlets reported that he was planning to “go to market” and “test his value” post November 1.
One newspaper said that he wouldn’t sign anything before the deadline - when he would have been permitted to engage with other clubs - while another postulated that the club could be drawn into a “talent auction”.
To be fair, Metcalf had found himself in an enviable position, as one of the few elite halves coming off contract at the end of next season. Almost every other No 7 – aside from Nathan Cleary – was tied up for 2027 or beyond. That meant that any club looking to upgrade their playmaking options could knock on his door, while his outstanding personal campaign (he led the Dally M voting and was one of the form players in the competition before his cruel knee injury last June) only increased his worth.
But despite that, he was always likely to stay in Auckland. Negotiations had started early in the season but were then put on hold after his injury. Once they restarted, it was never going to be too difficult to find common ground.
Metcalf is happy at the Warriors and unlike some past Australian imports has truly bought into the culture of the club and the city. He is a popular member of the group and relates well to his teammates, especially the young core. He also has a strong bond with coach Andrew Webster and co-captain Mitch Barnett.
Being on the inside, Metcalf believes in the potential of the squad. While the Warriors aren’t yet ready to win a premiership – they are certainly tracking in the right direction. That’s not necessarily the case for some other clubs chasing a halfback, while opting to join the new Perth Bears would be an adventure but the expansion club face a long road to be competitive.
The only caveat is his family situation, given he and his wife Brodie welcomed their first child last April. They don’t have any family here and that might become tricky to manage in the future. At some point in time – whether it is at the end of his career or earlier – he will have to go home. But for the medium term, it is feasible.
For the club, they saw enough last season to know that Metcalf could become a truly elite half. While he has limited experience as a number 7 and chief playmaker his progress was impressive and his ceiling is high. The only concern is his luckless run with injuries, after an earlier ACL at Manly in 2019, persistent hamstring issues and the broken leg suffered in 2024, though he has come back stronger each time.
The club and Metcalf’s representative were content to settle on a two-year extension, which gives him a further three seasons as a Warrior, given he is already signed for 2026.
Those close to the negotiations have described them as “fairly smooth”. There was “no angst”, as one insider put it, even if financial figures went back and forth. That was normal, as Metcalf has landed on a significant upgrade, which puts him inside the five highest earners at the club.
But Metcalf is grateful that the club backed him as long ago as November 2021, when the deal was first done to bring him to the Warriors. There is a debt there, that he hasn’t forgotten.
The 26-year-old was also aware of the hidden danger of moving on from a place where he has played the best football of his career and the team is built around him to leave for a different coach, different structure, different ideas and different pressures.
Conversely, the Warriors were thrilled with Metcalf’s progress in 2025. He sought the No 7 jersey, wanted to take control of the team and delivered. There were big shoes to fill with the retirement of Shaun Johnson, but he never looked overawed. It wasn’t perfect at times – as there is so much to learn about being an on-field general - but you can see the trajectory and the Warriors believe he can be the elite playmaker they need to chase the biggest prize.
While the November 1 deadline loomed warily for outsiders, it wasn’t really an issue for both parties. The contract probably would have been signed earlier but for a busy October. Metcalf married his long-time partner Brodie in Queenstown on October 11 before they went on their honeymoon. They returned to Auckland on October 22 and the contract was signed the following day.
Inside Luke Metcalf's decision to stay with the Warriors
Being on the inside, the halfback believes in the potential of the Warriors squad.
I am a proponent of work ethic over talent. The example is CNK, he is not rapid, he has an adequat game as a playmaker FB, but certainly not elite BUT, he runs himself into the ground, fearlesz and is a reliable defender. I think you need players who have that work ethic who are always working to get into the gsme. They are also great trainers which is a great example to young players.
Underwhelming?
This is our standard recruitment approach these days. Sign reserve graders who we think can be first graders.
We've signed two players into our weakest position (wing). What more can you ask for?
We've also got Gannon coming.
We are also into year two of a prior signing spree (Clark, Boyd, Healey, JFH).
Do I want a superstar fullback? yes. Is that possible? not really.
Do we need NAS? no. Are we better if we get him? probably.
The writing was on the wall for Lussick once we signed Healey. A credit to him for not dropping his lip and sticking it out in the NSW Cup side. Even playing in a different positon.
It sounds like he was a good guy to have around the club.
I have huge respect for the guys that stuck it out with the club while they were stuck in Australia during covid and came back with the club. We are getting to the point where there isn't many around. Shows the change NRL clubs go through in the space of 3-5 years.
Like I said in my first sentence. The writing was on the wall. His was a contract / roster spot we needed to free up if we wanted to sign someone else or promote someone.
Good luck Freddy. I would say break a leg like they say in acting. But he's already done that and I want our field kickers to see out the season.
It sounds like he was a good guy to have around the club.
I have huge respect for the guys that stuck it out with the club while they were stuck in Australia during covid and came back with the club. We are getting to the point where there isn't many around. Shows the change NRL clubs go through in the space of 3-5 years.
Like I said in my first sentence. The writing was on the wall. His was a contract / roster spot we needed to free up if we wanted to sign someone else or promote someone.
Good luck Freddy. I would say break a leg like they say in acting. But he's already done that and I want our field kickers to see out the season.
Good luck Freddy thanks for your service
Good dude who trained and played hard. I’m gonna miss him.
As experienced Webster ites we know he goes with the tried and true and is loyal to his Vets.
I think Inch is no chance as you say vs that Trio but Linane is a special case.
I could believe that Linane has been brought in with a potential NRL debut this season on the basis that Webster is looking like he wants speed and dynamism out there.
Rather than threatening CHT RTS TT in the short term I think Linane is a threat to Te Maire Martin in a 14 debut scenario.
The reason I say that is that Cappy really wanted Linane at the Warriors, so much so that he publicly came out and said he is star signing, and he managed to convince the Warriors to go after a busted player.
“His outstanding qualities as a player are his running game and his speed. We look forward to developing him in our system and giving him every opportunity.
He’s an exceptional talent and a terrific young man,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.
Exceptional talent is not a phrase you see thrown around by our coaches in this regime, they really believe in this guy, they think he is going to be a star.
We really look forward to giving him every opportunity.....I think that one statement when read after the calling this guy outstanding talent is where the Warriors view Linane, they think he is another Metcalf, they think they got him early, they think they have a future superstar halves pairing - and they have Nathan Cleary's little brother in reserve.
Certainly you can see how if they inject a fast running five eight in Te Maire's cameo slot - drop CHT to dummy half for ten to fifteen minutes, a role he looks great in for Samoa.
With Linane signing and placing Metcalf at seven it is now clear our plan is to have the fastest halves in the NRL.
Which tells you their plan is creating space by second guessing the opposition numbering, with the hope it draws in the opponents to take down Metcalf with their stand off and their edge back rower.
Which gives Metcalf options to draw and pass or kick to Linane and his outsides, or use a cut out ball.
The problem with all the attention on Metcalf as we know is that a shift to Linane offers just as much speed threat to their Center and Winger/fullback, which gives Linane the option of either a short draw to Gannon with pace on hitting that ball, or a pump fake and go ala Metcalf, or a straight ball to Gannon for a cut out to AKP.
That's without even factoring in our Center which we hope is Ali and can run a straight line, put on a shimmy to draw and pass to AKP.
And if you really want to skull fk them in the eye hole you put Leka stacked with Gannon on that side and look like Penrith on the move who look like they have fifteen players when they run set plays on their strong side.
We would instantly have a very fast wide attack - as quick as Brisbane with Walsh or the Raiders or the Panthers and Storm.
And lets not forget that with AKP we have a legitimate cut out ball and let him do all the work player. He has that Xfactor footwork where we can just throw it out there and let him shred as a legit game play.
Also I think that the bench spot for Linane would be a short minutes played thing which fits in with this protect the young guys on debut scenario, I can see the Warriors using that back on the bench role to one day drop Cleary in there or eventually Inch.
The other thing about RTS and CNK is that they are showing signs of age, and Webster has been through that now with Tohu and SJ, he knows he needs to start next year with the older guys, then if they look like SJ and Tohu syndrome 2.0 pull the trigger a third or half a season in and bring in AKP, Linane, Taine - even look at Mellars.
Father time will not be stopped no matter what plans the Coaches have nor dreams the fans foster.
And at least the coaches have experience of that now, they know they have to look to the future, they just had an amazing year of discovery, hell they put Metcalf in the seven and it was a Dally M move.
They unleashed Leka Halasima the most exciting forward in the NRL after ELi Koatoa.
They introduced us to future Warriors Captain Dimitric Vaimunga Sifakula.
They let a Laban back onto the RL world stage, and finished with throwing EIT out there with Stowers Smith.
This is not a coach that is going to be afraid of using new players next season.
2025 was the year Andrew Webster went wild with selections and threw his Cup stars into the NRL.
100% fitness willing Fatialofa plays NRL this season, why? because Andrew Webster now knows that all the hype about the Warriors junior forwards is actually true and he has seen it with his own eyes - a full season of proof, every young forward he used turned out to be an NRL player....when has that ever happened?
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If RTS is looking to extend, I would definitely shift him to FB for AKP to play left wing and CNK play Right centre for the remainder of his contract.
Going against the grain but I don’t necessarily think it means a NAS signing.
Opening up a single top 30 spot gives those fringe guys something to aim towards. It’s that carrot you can dangle during the off-season hill sprints. It’s just smart business.
Cutting Lussick has been the obvious move for the last 6 months. He’s served us well but to me, he’s one of the last signings from that period of desperate moves where we couldn’t attract shit. The roosters basically forced us to take on his contract.
Opening up a single top 30 spot gives those fringe guys something to aim towards. It’s that carrot you can dangle during the off-season hill sprints. It’s just smart business.
Cutting Lussick has been the obvious move for the last 6 months. He’s served us well but to me, he’s one of the last signings from that period of desperate moves where we couldn’t attract shit. The roosters basically forced us to take on his contract.
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And yet he has given more to the club than you ever will. Show a little respect.
Seems like he’s been up there with the fittest in the past couple of preseasons and quite hearty on the field. I wish hm nothing but the best if he’s departing