Richie Barnett: Former Kiwis Captain on tonight's Warriors v Panthers clash, Luke Metcalf's return to the side

Luke Metcalf has been summoned from the selection wilderness into the Warriors ahead of tonight's match against NRL league leaders Penrith. 

He'll start at halfback in what will be his first game since round five, after incumbent Te Maire Martin was ruled out with a hamstring strain. 

Metcalf has played two NRL games this season, both in the five-eighth role and both in defeats. 

Former Kiwis captain Richie Barnett told Mike Hosking it’s unknown at the moment what impact the late change will have. 

“Is it an opportunity or a challenge for the side? We’ll find out tonight.” 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yes, Panthers. So this is the one that counts, isn't it.
We played them once, we lost, but not by a lot.
But surely they are the yardstick of where the real deal.
Richie Barnett's back will this Richie? Very good morning to you.
I am beside myself with excitement. What do you reckon?

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Oh geez? This is such a mouth ordering game, isn't it? Like?
The last game was just what we'd expect from class
one and two one and three. We played tonight at
go Meeta Stadium, which gives them a sort of advantage.
The weather has no difference, to be fair, because Penrith
out the far west, they're used to this type of weather.

(00:35):
But what we have got a difference is that we've
got to change in halves. You know, Metcalf coming and
it's the unknown at the moment. Is it an opportunity
or a challenge for the side. We'll soon find out tonight.
But the clash of these two sides is just mouth
wording right across the paddock, with even the coaches in
the fray. That is unbelievable.

Speaker 1 (00:53):
If we lose, is that a psychological dent we can't
get past?

Speaker 2 (00:59):
And I like that I really do. I think the Warriors,
if they're going over your real contenders, they have to
win this game. They have to find a way. They
were so close last time, but close doesn't win your premierships.
They need to seal the deal and it needs to
start tonight.

Speaker 1 (01:12):
Okay, can they win?

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yes they can. What I saw last week was a
side that really just I watched it from my couch
and just sort of looked at the side that was
appearing to have some subtleties about them there. Back five
was unbelievable. The injection of Lequa Halasima at the back.
I'm a big fan of charts, the cold Cott's they're
given that he just comes into the side and performs

(01:36):
really well. What is going on with carn Pereira, Like
he has just taken what we've always known about the side.
We needed speed, didn't We We needed guys that could
change it up and change a game like an instant.
Carn Perier is that man, Liqua is that man. I
think they've got a real big difference in the side
With Wayne Egan. I think if he comes out and
plays the game that we know he can play, that

(01:58):
gives him advantage and just with that element of metcalfty
unknown and I'm hoping he shines really well. But I
think Wade he can can bee that gap where he
can start to bring his experience and change the game
in the middle. But I love the fact that they're
playing across the field with their forwards and I love
the fact that they're ceiling the deal on the edges

(02:18):
all fantastic.

Speaker 1 (02:19):
Oh you've got me, so you worked me into a
frenzy there, Richie, well done, Richie Barnett for mc keew's
captain of course and Warriors commentator and me son there tonight. Boy,
I cannot wait. Of all the games, I mean, I'm
excited about all the games, but this has got a
facile about it. This is this is like, this is
do or die, This is the real deal. This is
why we live for sport, basically, don't we? And there's

(02:41):
no other real sport on it over the weekend apart
of me. Now, I suppose is the All Blacks playing
a club site really that exciting? I'm member that who
and the and of course there's no f one

Speaker 2 (02:55):
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