June 30, 2025 • 7 mins
There's concerns for the Warriors' future after Luke Metcalf left the field with an injury.
The team's hit a rough spot - with some back-to-back losses for the first time in 2025 after a 26-12 defeat to the Broncos.
Former Warrior Motu Tony joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncy Wildergrave
from News Talk said.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Be big blow for the Warriors with Luke metcalf leaving
the field during Saturday's lost to the Broncos at sun
Corp with what looked to be a pretty serious sort
of knee injury.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
He's in trouble with at the moment Metcalf.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Here. He cannot He's not going to finish.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
The game here.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
It was a brutal shot.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
We're watching that in slow mob at full speed. I
was okay with it.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
I love Metcalf, don't get me wrong, but I was
okay with that. From perk Golf, we don't like seeing this.
We don't like seeing her half being carried off the field.
So that was the incident which led to Luke metcalf
to parting. Look, I don't think anybody is suggesting that
it was a really bad tackle got put on report.
I haven't seen anything today to suggest that it's going
to result in a ban or anything. The tackle was
(00:59):
around the ribs and as I say, that's what they're
taught to do, or as the commentator said, but it
was the impact on Luke Metcalfe's knee, which was the
major damage done to him. He has started every game
at half back this season. He's the sides leading triscorer
with eight he's the leading points scorer with one hundred
and seventeen and was the NRLs dally M leader before
(01:22):
voting went behind closed doors a month ago. He is
just so influential, so important to the Warriors in a
massive part of their run into the top four over
the first three or four months of the season. So
how big is this and who replaces him? Let's chat
this through with former Warrior and Kiwi's utility Motu Tony Matu.
(01:44):
Thanks for your time this evening on Sports Talk. Let's
start with how big this is? How big a blow
is this to the Warriors. If Luke Metcalf is indeed
ruled out for the season, he will be a.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Huge blow for the Warriors. You know, Metcalf's been playing,
you know, understating it, but he's been playing, you know,
really well this year. And you know last week there
was talk of you know, possibly being an Origin boker
for you know, for Origin, and now you know he's
he's facing I guess, you know, possibly a season ending injury.
So it's a huge blow full of Warriors, but there
(02:16):
are options and the Warriors have shown this year that
they're resilient team. You know they need to get back
on the horse quite quick, but they have shown are
resilience under Andrew Webster's coaching tenure.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Let's talk about the the options for replacing him in
a moment, but in terms of what you've been most
impressed by with Luke Metcalf this season, and also malto
the fact that he was given the seven jersey in
the first place, because last year, of course, when Shawn
Johnson was out it was to Marty Martin who stepped in.
There were you surprised Luke was given that seven jumper
And what has impressed you most about his performances just.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
As you know, coolness under pressure and his calmness, and
you know he built he grew into the seven role
and you know anyone will tell you that. You know
that's familiar with the game. You know, halfback's probably the
most pressurized position you know in an NRL. So you
know they're cuff done in our standing job to take
on the role and then grow and get better each game.
(03:10):
And you know, to be leading a da hand point
as you mentioned and he started to build a nice
combination you know with Chanell Harris Deavida and really found
his place in the team. So you know, that's why
a disappointing and a devastating loss of you know, the
reports are accurate.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
So the two obvious replacements are to Marty Martin and
Tanner Boyd. Tanner Boyd hasn't near played a game this season.
Tomarty Martin's had eight appearances off the bench, including each
of the last seven games. Is it more likely they'll
go with Tomarty because he's been in and around the
playing group this season or is there a case to
bring in someone brand new and Tanna Boyd?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Yeah, I think you know, Tomorrow's got the I guess
the advantage of having played the NRL you know, this
year for the Warriors. But Tanner Boyd has played seven
and a lot of seven NRL level he's used to
guide him, you know, the football team around and he's
also got a very good kicking game and also a goalkicker.
So I think Tanner Boyd, who has also been playing
(04:10):
really well for the new South Wales Cup team, is
a favorite at this stage. If the news is what
we you know, what We've heard about Luton Metcuff, So.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
You think that Andrew Webster would favor Tanner Boyd in
the situation and say, okay, Tomighty, you're you're an interchange
player for us, We value you there. But but Tanner
Boyd gets the seven jumper.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Yeah, I think, you know, he's probably the favorite given
his form in the New South Wales Cup, but also
just as in ourl experience leading a team around the park,
so and his game is probably more of a natural
fit and aligned with with Chanelle Harris Tavita as well.
So you know, I'm just my opinion, but I think, yeah,
it is Tanner Boyd at the stage.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
So that combination, as you mentioned there is obviously very important.
And the Luke Metcalf, Chanelle Harris Tavita, you know combo
this year has been very very cohesive. How quickly or
not are combinations like that able to be forged?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I think, you know, it won't take you know, too
much time for Tanner Boyd if he is the person
to assume that seventh role. You know he's got a
you know, abundance of NRL experience, but also you know
the team has you know, got its pieces in place.
You know, Chanel is quite comfortable in its role. You know,
Aaron Clark can link both sides of the field in
the middle. So and also you got wed Egan, so
(05:30):
do we do the Warriors playoff wed Egan a little
bit more than the than they did when Metcalf was there.
You know, those are some of the options and also
some of the strength that Tanner Boyd will bring into
the equation for the Warriors coaches.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Injuries are of course inevitable in rugby league, and the
Warriors have had to deal with absence this season for
why they didn't have Roger to Ivasi Chek or James
Fisher Harris others have been in and out. But at
the moment we're looking multi at a situation where there
might be no Luke Metcalf, no Mitch Barnett, no Dellan
won Tennis Alesniak right now and probably no chance Nickel
klukstar for a while either with his own knee injury.
(06:04):
Is this list getting worryingly long? For Andrew Webster?
Speaker 3 (06:09):
It is getting long? But you know, one of the
I think the real strengths. You know, Andrew Webster's coaching
tenure of the Warriors has been a next man up
sort of approach. So you could even take it back
to you know, the start of the season when you know,
people weren't sure how the Warriors would performed with an Inferno,
Blake gone, Sean Johnson, Jasevana, you know, so you know,
the guys have really stepped up, and you know, knowing
(06:31):
the Warriors coaches, they'll be expecting, you know, the young
guys who do get an opportunity or guys who haven't
been in the NRL squad that often this year to
step up and also make an impact.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
So they're going to buy next, which gives them a
bit of time to kind of, I guess, work out
what they're going to do. Then in July they played
the Tigers, the Knights, and the Titans. Tigers and Titans
at home nights away. Those three teams are all in
the sort of lower echelons of the table. It seems
like a more comfortable run, but as July quite important
given the injury list and the fact that you guys
are going to have to come in.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Yeah, I think, you know, rather than looking at you know,
there is a favorable sort of a run. You know,
there are no game in the NRLs is an easy
game or given. But you know those teams, like you say,
in the bottom half of the table. But you know,
I think the Warriors would just need to, you know,
focus on on their performance because when they perform well
on the mat on on you know who's on the
(07:23):
field or not. You know, there are chants in every
NRL game. Enough shown it this year with like you mentioned,
some of the guys that haven't been playing and they
have been injured. So the Warriors would just need to
give back to what works for them the beginning of
the year and you know the result will take care
of itself.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Interesting challenges ahead for Andrew Webster and is playing great matter.
Really appreciate your time and you're analysis tonight. Thanks for
joining us.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
No, it's plenty good to check.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Good to tet to you to mat tiny there former
Warriors and Kiwi's utility. Pretty astute eye on the game.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncy Wildergrave
from News Talk said.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Be big blow for the Warriors with Luke metcalf leaving
the field during Saturday's lost to the Broncos at sun
Corp with what looked to be a pretty serious sort
of knee injury.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
He's in trouble with at the moment Metcalf.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Here. He cannot He's not going to finish.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
The game here.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
It was a brutal shot.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
We're watching that in slow mob at full speed. I
was okay with it.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
I love Metcalf, don't get me wrong, but I was
okay with that. From perk Golf, we don't like seeing this.
We don't like seeing her half being carried off the field.
So that was the incident which led to Luke metcalf
to parting. Look, I don't think anybody is suggesting that
it was a really bad tackle got put on report.
I haven't seen anything today to suggest that it's going
to result in a ban or anything. The tackle was
(00:59):
around the ribs and as I say, that's what they're
taught to do, or as the commentator said, but it
was the impact on Luke Metcalfe's knee, which was the
major damage done to him. He has started every game
at half back this season. He's the sides leading triscorer
with eight he's the leading points scorer with one hundred
and seventeen and was the NRLs dally M leader before
(01:22):
voting went behind closed doors a month ago. He is
just so influential, so important to the Warriors in a
massive part of their run into the top four over
the first three or four months of the season. So
how big is this and who replaces him? Let's chat
this through with former Warrior and Kiwi's utility Motu Tony Matu.
(01:44):
Thanks for your time this evening on Sports Talk. Let's
start with how big this is? How big a blow
is this to the Warriors. If Luke Metcalf is indeed
ruled out for the season, he will be a.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Huge blow for the Warriors. You know, Metcalf's been playing,
you know, understating it, but he's been playing, you know,
really well this year. And you know last week there
was talk of you know, possibly being an Origin boker
for you know, for Origin, and now you know he's
he's facing I guess, you know, possibly a season ending injury.
So it's a huge blow full of Warriors, but there
(02:16):
are options and the Warriors have shown this year that
they're resilient team. You know they need to get back
on the horse quite quick, but they have shown are
resilience under Andrew Webster's coaching tenure.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Let's talk about the the options for replacing him in
a moment, but in terms of what you've been most
impressed by with Luke Metcalf this season, and also malto
the fact that he was given the seven jersey in
the first place, because last year, of course, when Shawn
Johnson was out it was to Marty Martin who stepped in.
There were you surprised Luke was given that seven jumper
And what has impressed you most about his performances just.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
As you know, coolness under pressure and his calmness, and
you know he built he grew into the seven role
and you know anyone will tell you that. You know
that's familiar with the game. You know, halfback's probably the
most pressurized position you know in an NRL. So you
know they're cuff done in our standing job to take
on the role and then grow and get better each game.
(03:10):
And you know, to be leading a da hand point
as you mentioned and he started to build a nice
combination you know with Chanell Harris Deavida and really found
his place in the team. So you know, that's why
a disappointing and a devastating loss of you know, the
reports are accurate.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
So the two obvious replacements are to Marty Martin and
Tanner Boyd. Tanner Boyd hasn't near played a game this season.
Tomarty Martin's had eight appearances off the bench, including each
of the last seven games. Is it more likely they'll
go with Tomarty because he's been in and around the
playing group this season or is there a case to
bring in someone brand new and Tanna Boyd?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Yeah, I think you know, Tomorrow's got the I guess
the advantage of having played the NRL you know, this
year for the Warriors. But Tanner Boyd has played seven
and a lot of seven NRL level he's used to
guide him, you know, the football team around and he's
also got a very good kicking game and also a goalkicker.
So I think Tanner Boyd, who has also been playing
(04:10):
really well for the new South Wales Cup team, is
a favorite at this stage. If the news is what
we you know, what We've heard about Luton Metcuff, So.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
You think that Andrew Webster would favor Tanner Boyd in
the situation and say, okay, Tomighty, you're you're an interchange
player for us, We value you there. But but Tanner
Boyd gets the seven jumper.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Yeah, I think, you know, he's probably the favorite given
his form in the New South Wales Cup, but also
just as in ourl experience leading a team around the park,
so and his game is probably more of a natural
fit and aligned with with Chanelle Harris Tavita as well.
So you know, I'm just my opinion, but I think, yeah,
it is Tanner Boyd at the stage.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
So that combination, as you mentioned there is obviously very important.
And the Luke Metcalf, Chanelle Harris Tavita, you know combo
this year has been very very cohesive. How quickly or
not are combinations like that able to be forged?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I think, you know, it won't take you know, too
much time for Tanner Boyd if he is the person
to assume that seventh role. You know he's got a
you know, abundance of NRL experience, but also you know
the team has you know, got its pieces in place.
You know, Chanel is quite comfortable in its role. You know,
Aaron Clark can link both sides of the field in
the middle. So and also you got wed Egan, so
(05:30):
do we do the Warriors playoff wed Egan a little
bit more than the than they did when Metcalf was there.
You know, those are some of the options and also
some of the strength that Tanner Boyd will bring into
the equation for the Warriors coaches.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Injuries are of course inevitable in rugby league, and the
Warriors have had to deal with absence this season for
why they didn't have Roger to Ivasi Chek or James
Fisher Harris others have been in and out. But at
the moment we're looking multi at a situation where there
might be no Luke Metcalf, no Mitch Barnett, no Dellan
won Tennis Alesniak right now and probably no chance Nickel
klukstar for a while either with his own knee injury.
(06:04):
Is this list getting worryingly long? For Andrew Webster?
Speaker 3 (06:09):
It is getting long? But you know, one of the
I think the real strengths. You know, Andrew Webster's coaching
tenure of the Warriors has been a next man up
sort of approach. So you could even take it back
to you know, the start of the season when you know,
people weren't sure how the Warriors would performed with an Inferno,
Blake gone, Sean Johnson, Jasevana, you know, so you know,
the guys have really stepped up, and you know, knowing
(06:31):
the Warriors coaches, they'll be expecting, you know, the young
guys who do get an opportunity or guys who haven't
been in the NRL squad that often this year to
step up and also make an impact.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
So they're going to buy next, which gives them a
bit of time to kind of, I guess, work out
what they're going to do. Then in July they played
the Tigers, the Knights, and the Titans. Tigers and Titans
at home nights away. Those three teams are all in
the sort of lower echelons of the table. It seems
like a more comfortable run, but as July quite important
given the injury list and the fact that you guys
are going to have to come in.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Yeah, I think, you know, rather than looking at you know,
there is a favorable sort of a run. You know,
there are no game in the NRLs is an easy
game or given. But you know those teams, like you say,
in the bottom half of the table. But you know,
I think the Warriors would just need to, you know,
focus on on their performance because when they perform well
on the mat on on you know who's on the
(07:23):
field or not. You know, there are chants in every
NRL game. Enough shown it this year with like you mentioned,
some of the guys that haven't been playing and they
have been injured. So the Warriors would just need to
give back to what works for them the beginning of
the year and you know the result will take care
of itself.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Interesting challenges ahead for Andrew Webster and is playing great matter.
Really appreciate your time and you're analysis tonight. Thanks for
joining us.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
No, it's plenty good to check.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Good to tet to you to mat tiny there former
Warriors and Kiwi's utility. Pretty astute eye on the game.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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