With respect, neither has Metcalf.
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With respect, neither has Metcalf.
In both camps. I think Boyds was unfairly criticised last year, and same is happening with Metcalf this year. I dont believe we need to be tribal and have to choose one over the other so we can shit on the other player. Both bring unique skillset to the team, and both do make a case to be the 7. But for right now Boyd should not be dropped for Metcalf. Its just as simple as that.
As warriors fans, we should probably be hoping that we have all 3 of Boyd, CHT, Metcalf at the Warriors this and next year. It makes out halves position stronger and theres no doubt that all can play a big part in how we perform.
As warriors fans, we should probably be hoping that we have all 3 of Boyd, CHT, Metcalf at the Warriors this and next year. It makes out halves position stronger and theres no doubt that all can play a big part in how we perform.
Dippa
👍
In my opinion, expansion clubs and rival teams are absolutely monitoring the Warriors closely right now. Success changes everything in professional sport. When a club is winning, developing players well, building depth, and creating stability, other organisations naturally begin looking at who may become available or squeezed out long term. The Warriors suddenly having multiple capable halves is not a weakness — it’s actually a sign the club is finally building properly.
Because of that, I wouldn’t be surprised if conversations have already quietly taken place between rival clubs and player managers regarding future opportunities. Expansion clubs linked to PNG and Perth especially would be doing their homework early. They cannot afford to wait until the market is dry before identifying spine players they may want to build around.
A player like Luke Metcalf becomes very attractive in that environment: What I don’t buy into is the idea that Metcalf himself is unhappy or carrying on emotionally. To me, this feels far more like standard player management and external noise than some sort of internal crisis. Managers are paid to explore the market, create leverage, and understand future opportunities for their clients. Public speculation often becomes part of that process, whether intentional or not. There’s probably also an element of pot stirring occurring because the Warriors are now viewed differently across the competition. For years, the club was criticised for lacking consistency and depth in key positions. Now they suddenly have genuine competition for jerseys and people are trying to turn that into a negative.
I also think there’s an important lesson sitting right in front of everyone through Tanah Boyd’s situation. Boyd understood where he sat within the squad, worked hard behind the scenes, stayed patient, and prepared himself for the opportunity when it came. When called upon, he looked ready for first grade and took his chance with the mindset that the jersey should only be taken off him through performance. That’s exactly the mentality successful clubs need internally. The reality is that elite teams rarely keep every talented player completely comfortable forever. Competition is healthy. The key is having clarity, honesty, and standards within the environment. Players improve when positions are earned rather than handed out.
From Metcalf’s perspective, he also has to weigh up whether another opportunity would genuinely place him in a better football situation than the one currently building at the Warriors. Right now the club offers: stability, strong support, finals potential, quality coaching, and an improving roster. These things matter.
Hopefully this situation settles down because, in my view, the Warriors having multiple quality halves competing for spots is a far better problem than the instability and lack of depth the club has battled through for years.
Because of that, I wouldn’t be surprised if conversations have already quietly taken place between rival clubs and player managers regarding future opportunities. Expansion clubs linked to PNG and Perth especially would be doing their homework early. They cannot afford to wait until the market is dry before identifying spine players they may want to build around.
A player like Luke Metcalf becomes very attractive in that environment: What I don’t buy into is the idea that Metcalf himself is unhappy or carrying on emotionally. To me, this feels far more like standard player management and external noise than some sort of internal crisis. Managers are paid to explore the market, create leverage, and understand future opportunities for their clients. Public speculation often becomes part of that process, whether intentional or not. There’s probably also an element of pot stirring occurring because the Warriors are now viewed differently across the competition. For years, the club was criticised for lacking consistency and depth in key positions. Now they suddenly have genuine competition for jerseys and people are trying to turn that into a negative.
I also think there’s an important lesson sitting right in front of everyone through Tanah Boyd’s situation. Boyd understood where he sat within the squad, worked hard behind the scenes, stayed patient, and prepared himself for the opportunity when it came. When called upon, he looked ready for first grade and took his chance with the mindset that the jersey should only be taken off him through performance. That’s exactly the mentality successful clubs need internally. The reality is that elite teams rarely keep every talented player completely comfortable forever. Competition is healthy. The key is having clarity, honesty, and standards within the environment. Players improve when positions are earned rather than handed out.
From Metcalf’s perspective, he also has to weigh up whether another opportunity would genuinely place him in a better football situation than the one currently building at the Warriors. Right now the club offers: stability, strong support, finals potential, quality coaching, and an improving roster. These things matter.
Hopefully this situation settles down because, in my view, the Warriors having multiple quality halves competing for spots is a far better problem than the instability and lack of depth the club has battled through for years.
I have always had doubts about Metcalf. There are times are crucial periods where he can be a deer in headlights and just freeze. When he's good he's great but I would argue either player would play well when the team is rolling like they do.
I think Boyd's success has been based off him executing his role perfectly in Webby's highly structured game plan. He's clearly done his homework and is enjoying the rewards. This is true of the whole team really as everyone needs to be in the right place at the right time.
One thing that really cheeses my pizza with Boyd is his goal kicking. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! There will be games where we win or lose just because of his boot.
What surprises me is people are no longer shitting on CHT anymore. Have the masses finally woken up???
I think Boyd's success has been based off him executing his role perfectly in Webby's highly structured game plan. He's clearly done his homework and is enjoying the rewards. This is true of the whole team really as everyone needs to be in the right place at the right time.
One thing that really cheeses my pizza with Boyd is his goal kicking. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! There will be games where we win or lose just because of his boot.
What surprises me is people are no longer shitting on CHT anymore. Have the masses finally woken up???
tyrael
🍻
I think we should have a thread here where we sell warriors merch to each other and know it's going to a good home.
Blain
📈
My 3 year old absolutely loves his cheap Warriors T Shirt. I've been trying to find a second hand jersey for him, because I don't want to do what you said and spend $100 new for a shirt that will last 1 year. But his cheap T Shirt, he is so proud of it and always asks when we are playing. It's a cool way to get the young ones into it easily.
No, the best thing for Rugby League is the Warriors winning the Grand Final this year and the Kiwis winning the World Cup.
Leading the Dally Ms to not even seeing a pathway into the playing 17... that is a bitter pill to swallow. Surely no one could argue otherwise.
Metcalf has done nothing wrong, no disrespect has been shown, he hasn't tried to cut corners, he's a guy who has done the hard slog for many years and saw it finally starting to blossom into something. He must be desperate to be playing some football, hopefully he will be soon.
An apples and oranges analogy, but I got into the 1st XI at a very successful cricketing school when I was a junior. I then spent the best part of 2 years as 12th man/sub-fielder in a team of seniors. Though others saw my position as being a feather in the cap at that age, an heir-apparent, I just wanted to play cricket. I ended up leaving the school system and playing a lower grade in club cricket and felt a million dollars despite the school treating me like a pariah as a result. Sometimes it is just nice to know where you can fit in and contribute, and Luke is in no man's land at the moment. Worse case scenario is playing jersey 19 (20 at the Warriors) and not getting game time. No one wants to be that unless his focus is on the value of his contract. However, we know Luke is a passionate student of the game and he'll just want to know where he is going to contribute and be given the opportunity to prove himself. Give him the challenge of leading a struggling NSW Cup team back to being contenders. There is lots he can advertise in that arena.
At least he has had the opportunity to come back from injury. Some players don't get to do that.
I also think that fan's are getting too comfortable with our trajectory at the moment. We can't afford to lose good players yet. No chickens should be counted.
Metcalf has done nothing wrong, no disrespect has been shown, he hasn't tried to cut corners, he's a guy who has done the hard slog for many years and saw it finally starting to blossom into something. He must be desperate to be playing some football, hopefully he will be soon.
An apples and oranges analogy, but I got into the 1st XI at a very successful cricketing school when I was a junior. I then spent the best part of 2 years as 12th man/sub-fielder in a team of seniors. Though others saw my position as being a feather in the cap at that age, an heir-apparent, I just wanted to play cricket. I ended up leaving the school system and playing a lower grade in club cricket and felt a million dollars despite the school treating me like a pariah as a result. Sometimes it is just nice to know where you can fit in and contribute, and Luke is in no man's land at the moment. Worse case scenario is playing jersey 19 (20 at the Warriors) and not getting game time. No one wants to be that unless his focus is on the value of his contract. However, we know Luke is a passionate student of the game and he'll just want to know where he is going to contribute and be given the opportunity to prove himself. Give him the challenge of leading a struggling NSW Cup team back to being contenders. There is lots he can advertise in that arena.
At least he has had the opportunity to come back from injury. Some players don't get to do that.
I also think that fan's are getting too comfortable with our trajectory at the moment. We can't afford to lose good players yet. No chickens should be counted.
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I think its fair game for his management to seek clarity on his future. Thats what his management should absolutely do, as he was signed on a marquee contract extension and was placed on bench and not played.
I think of it like a great employee who was the star. Went for a holiday, came back and was a lil rusty. In the meantime a high profile, critical project started and he was not chosen for it but asked to do menial support work.
I do not buy into the 2 clubs have made contact or whatever. They cannot speak to him as hes under contract. Sure, they can contact his agent and ask "whats up" but thats about it.
Long season ahead and likely we will need all 3 of the guys to go deep in post.
Agreed. Best way to read these endless posts about Metcalf V Boyd.
Season is still young. This time last year Doggies fans were organising carpools to goto the GF. Then Raiders.
Think its unfair to say Metcalf has performed badly in his first game back, and then his subsequent game when he was injured. People forget he had a good season last year at 7, and previously playing 6.
Why do we have to choose between the two. Long season ahead and ideally we keep Metcalf, Boyd and CHT.
Pages and pages of going around in circles over what might be click bait.
Thanks Aussie media, something to grease the wheels during the bye week.
If this story is true I would expect NZ media to be talking about their sources in regard to this story.
Instead our local media is just doing a rehash of the rumor using the language "reports".
According to Stuff and RNZ national the club have made no comment (I wouldn't take anything from that, it is just as likely our media were too lazy to even ask).
One thing I will say about this year, something has changed at the club. You see it in Andrew Webster, he is very serious these days, quite intense, and seems to have matured as a coach.
He is a boss now in the street sense of the word.
He will have no problem asking Metcalf's management to point to where in the contract it says Luke Metcalf is guaranteed the half back position.....if any of this is even true.
The Warriors cannot afford to let any distractions meddle with their all important negotiations with Chanel and Tanah's agents just now.
Quite honestly if this stuff is true, the Warriors would be best telling Metcalf and his manager to piss off.
Thanks Aussie media, something to grease the wheels during the bye week.
If this story is true I would expect NZ media to be talking about their sources in regard to this story.
Instead our local media is just doing a rehash of the rumor using the language "reports".
According to Stuff and RNZ national the club have made no comment (I wouldn't take anything from that, it is just as likely our media were too lazy to even ask).
One thing I will say about this year, something has changed at the club. You see it in Andrew Webster, he is very serious these days, quite intense, and seems to have matured as a coach.
He is a boss now in the street sense of the word.
He will have no problem asking Metcalf's management to point to where in the contract it says Luke Metcalf is guaranteed the half back position.....if any of this is even true.
The Warriors cannot afford to let any distractions meddle with their all important negotiations with Chanel and Tanah's agents just now.
Quite honestly if this stuff is true, the Warriors would be best telling Metcalf and his manager to piss off.
Luke should really take a leaf out of Tannah's book. He had to wait 16 weeks before getting a chance with Met's ACL. He could have spat the dummy and left to go to the cows which is what I'm sure his manager was advising him to do. But he didn't. He stayed because he wanted to be part of OUR team and knew that if he was patient, the opportunity would arise. And it did. He's now the in-form half of the comp playing behind one of the best packs in the comp.
Luke's opportunity will come. In all honesty, I really think this is just classic rumor mill stuff and that Mets and the club are totally fine with each other. But I'd personally feel more comfortable if he would just come out in public to clear the air about it all.
Luke's opportunity will come. In all honesty, I really think this is just classic rumor mill stuff and that Mets and the club are totally fine with each other. But I'd personally feel more comfortable if he would just come out in public to clear the air about it all.
juju
🔥
Asking for a conversation should be kept in house though. Somebodies leaking.
Cces
🎯
I think this week's drama could have been avoided, or at least delayed, if Metcalf had actually been given a chance to push his case at #7, albeit in Cup, rather than sit idle on the extended bench. With no chance to play any minutes this weekend it seems like a wasted opportunity. The counter argument is he needed to be there to cover injury but him having to potentially play 79 straight minutes in the NRL on the back of a hamstring injury was risky in itself. 60 minutes in Cup should have been the go
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Cces
🎯
He said he prefers playing 7 & enjoys having the ball in his hands more often. CNK stated he was solely a Fullback when RTS joined the club. Blokes are allowed a preference
I think people that play like Boyd (organizers with a high ceiling kicking game) in a decent team will set you up to play better more often than someone that can pull Rabbits out of hats (obviously there are once in a generation players like Cleary Thurston Johns et al that can do both).
I also think Boyd doesn't get that type of credit as often as he deserves.
Take our last game against a spirited Eels where we flicked the switch and crushed them in the final minutes (a reoccurring pattern under Boyd this season with the Warriors clearly pouring the late points on). We were the fitter of the two sides. Where does that extra energy come from? We tend to focus on individual fitness, astute use of the bench, but overlook the value of winning the territorial game which starts with having a decent kicker.
Webster likes to go into half time having only used two replacements, it is a actual ploy of his, to keep his guns fully loaded. It is why they run Ford and used to run Egan non stop. And it is where Webster sees Morgan Gannon's role as an eighty minute option "he gives us more minutes" said Webster of Gannon.
Webster has been shaped in the fires of horrific and unfair injury tolls. Rather than shrug his shoulders and go 'well that is outside of my control, in the hands of fate' he has taken that experience and experimented a lot with using his bench in a minimalist way to future proof himself.
Boyd's kicking game is critical to that type of approach, constantly kicking the forwards out of trouble, sees us have more juice than the opposition.
So while I don't disagree that Boyd looks a lot better off the back of a decent forward platform, I also see Boyd (and CHT) helping to keep his men rolling.
Imagine if all our players played the club with this proffesionalism.
Ford would be an edge backrower, RTS and CNK would be fullbacks with one running around in cup.
It isn't professionalism at all.
Professionalism is a private conversation between Andrew Webster and Luke Metcalf that none of us nor media ever get to speculate on.
Let's hope it is a fiction.