Metcalf ACL

[nswarrior]

Terrible news!!!

Poor Metcalf, wish him all the best.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Here is a rather large stat dump via Niche Cache


NZ Warriors bits and bobs...

Luke Metcalf has not played more than 15 NRL and NSW Cup games combined in a year (NSW Cup | NRL)...
2018: 1 | -
2019: 2 | -
2020: 1 | -
2021: 9 | 6 (15)
2022: 13 | 1 (14)
2023: 1 | 12 (13)
2024: 2 | 7 (9)
2025: - | 15

Chanel Harris-Tavita has played 15+ NRL games in 3 consecutive seasons. 5 tries, 13 try assists, 221.4 kick metres/game this season are all career-highs for Harris-Tavita.

Metcalf has played 41 NRL games at 26yrs and Tanah Boyd has played 69 games at 24yrs.

Metcalf has 66.6% kicking conversion in NRL this year, Boyd has 80.5% kicking conversion in NSW Cup.

Boyd has won all of his 13 NSW Cup games this season...
1 try, 13 try assists, 68m/game, 300.5 kick metres/game, 87.8% tackling

NZ Warriors halves map from last weekend...
NRL starters: Luke Metcalf, Chanel Harris-Tavita
NRL squad: Te Maire Martin (bench), Tanah Boyd (18th)
NSW Cup: Jett Cleary (U21), Luke Hanson (U21)
Jersey Flegg Cup: Jack Thompson (U19), Maui Winitana-Patelesio (U19)

NZW are 9-9 during State of Origin period in 2 Andys era - no clear advantage.

NRL Warriors after round 17 in 2 Andys era...
2023: 5th | 9-6
2024: 13th | 7-8-1
2025: 4th | 10-5
NSW Cup Warriors after round 17 in 2 Andys era...
2023: 6th | 8-7-1
2024: 3rd | 10-5-1
2025: 1st | 15-1

Te Maire Martin minutes coming off the bench this season: 23, 19, 7, 20, 16, 33, 41, 51

Leka Halasima has started 8 games at edge forward and come off the bench in 7 games. 4 of his 6 tries were scored in games coming off the bench. He has a tackle break in every game this year and his tackling efficiency has increased from 84.7% last year to 93.2% this year.

Demitric Vaimauga has played 30+ minutes in 3 consecutive games vs Sharks, Panthers, Broncos - first time that's happened this season. Tackling has increased with each NRL season: 90.9%, 93.1%, 96.3%.

Jacob Laban played 30+ minutes for the first time this season vs Sharks and has stayed above 50mins in last 3 games: 50mins, 71mins, 58mins.

Rocco Berry's tackling efficiency is trending down in 5 NRL seasons: 92.4%, 90.4%, 90.5%, 91.3%, 85.2%.

NSW Cup Warriors are 15-1. Only team with more than 12 wins after 26-4 win vs Sea Eagles.

Taine Tuaupiki vs Sea Eagles: 27 runs - 257m @ 9.5m/run, 2 linebreak assists, 1 try assist, 13 tackle breaks, 4 offloads, 2 kicks, 3 tackles @ 75%.

Samuel Healey in NSW Cup...
2023: 12 games, 5 tries, 4 try assists, 9 offloads, 58m/game, 94.9% tackling
2024: 26 games, 8 tries, 4 try assists, 22 offloads, 56m/game, 94.2% tackling
2025: 11 games, 2 tries, 3 try assists, 19 offloads, 92m/game, 96.3% tackling

U21s who played in NSW Cup win vs Sea Eagles: Sio Kali, Luke Hanson, Jett Cleary, Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea, Kayliss Fatialofa, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Jason Salalilo, Harry Durbin, Makaia Tafua.

Eddie Ieremia-Toeava has played 80mins in 11 of 13 NSW Cup games this year - 70+ mins in every game. 42 games of NSW Cup all up.

Kayliss Fatialofa has played 80mins in 13 of 16 games this year. 24 games all up.

Makaia Tafua has played 24 games of NSW Cup while still eligible for U21s.

Jason Salalilo vs Sea Eagles: 36mins, 12 runs - 145m @ 12m/run, 3 tackle breaks, 26 tackles @ 96%
Salalilo minutes this season: 15, 35, 32,40, 36, 36, 24, 28, 38, 33, 36

Luke Hanson has played 30 games of NSW Cup while still eligible for U21s...
2024: 18 games, 5 tries, 11 try assists, 4 offloads, 66m/game, 90.4% tackling
2025: 12 games, 6 tries, 13 try assists, 5 offloads, 77m/game, 97.2% tackling

Sio Kali basics...
2023: 4 games of U19s
2024: 3 games of U19s, 4 games of U21s, 7 games of NSW Cup
2025: 1 game of U21s, 3 games of NSW Cup

Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea has been starting prop in his two games of NSW Cup this season: 29mins and 44mins. Also played 13 games of U21s this year.

Relevant reading...
Mid-season youngster report: https://theniche-cache.com/rugbylea...and-warriors-2025-mid-season-youngster-report
Broncos preview: https://theniche-cache.com/rugbylea...t-losses-broncos-preview-amp-junior-deep-cuts
10 best youngsters: https://theniche-cache.com/rugbylea...erging-youngsters-from-the-first-half-of-2025

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Here is a rather large stat dump via Niche Cache


NZ Warriors bits and bobs...

Luke Metcalf has not played more than 15 NRL and NSW Cup games combined in a year (NSW Cup | NRL)...
2018: 1 | -
2019: 2 | -
2020: 1 | -
2021: 9 | 6 (15)
2022: 13 | 1 (14)
2023: 1 | 12 (13)
2024: 2 | 7 (9)
2025: - | 15

I've been trying to get a handle on Metcalf's injury history recently. I know 2019 and 2025 he did ACLs, and 2023 and 2024 he missed most of those seasons with hamstring injuries and a broken leg. 2018 I am guessing he was just playing juniors. 2020 NSW Cup was cancelled so I think he just didn't get picked for first grade.

2021 and 2022 to only play 15 and 14 games I'm assuming he must've had relatively serious injuries too, or at least an excess of niggly injuries?

Harsh reality is when he gets back on the field he'll be a 27 year old who has played 41 first grade games and hasn't played a full season since age group footy. On top of that, he's had recurrent hamstring issues, 2 ACLs and a broken leg. We're talking about a guy who depends on speed but is getting past the peak age for speed and with a terrible history of leg injuries.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Harsh reality is when he gets back on the field he'll be a 27 year old who has played 41 first grade games and hasn't played a full season since age group footy. On top of that, he's had recurrent hamstring issues, 2 ACLs and a broken leg. We're talking about a guy who depends on speed but is getting past the peak age for speed and with a terrible history of leg injuries.

Shit that’s a sobering thought.

ACL returnees often take a while to get back up speed too don’t they. Could literally be this time next year before he’s back to something near his best. Poor bugger.