Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks boom rookie Luke Metcalf has finalised an agreement to join the Warriors for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Metcalf is under contract for the Sharks in 2022 and will see out the year under new coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
It’s been a challenging few years for the 22-year-old after injuring his ACL in 2019 and sitting out for the majority of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Metcalf’s fortunes turned in 2021 after he made his NRL debut in Round 20 against his former club, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
Largely playing off the bench, the Sharks Rookie of the Year played six NRL games in 2021 including two opportunities to play at his natural position of five-eighth.
The Short Side with Jamie Soward & Luke Metcalf
His best performance came in Round 23 against Wests Tigers where he scored two tries, one try assist, one linebreak, five tackle busts and 124 running metres to help the Sharks defeat the Tigers 50-20.
“Luke was really impressive when he came into the NRL late in the season,” Warriors coach Nathan Brown told warriors.com.au.
“He had to wait for his chance after seeing next to no football in 2020 because of COVID-19, but he showed why he has been so highly regarded coming through the grades with both the Sharks and Manly.”
Since bursting onto the scene at the Auckland Nines in 2020, Metcalf has established himself as a genuine up-and-coming strike weapon with blistering speed which was evident through his performances for the Newtown Jets in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
In 2021 Metcalf featured in nine games and scored seven tries, kicked 13 goals as well as having five try assists, four linebreak assists and 101 running metres per game.
Metcalf also represented the NSW Under 16s and Under 18s in 2017 in a side that also featured Zac Lomax and Payne Haas.
