The New Zealand Warriors have confirmed halfback Luke Metcalf will be fit again this season, but not until the finals after suffering a hamstring strain while goal kicking during Saturday evening's big win over the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
Metcalf has had a long history of injury problems, and the latest was a cruel blow coming just weeks after he got back into the first-grade side.
Metcalf, who missed the start of the season recovering from an ACL injury he sustained midway through what was fast becoming a career-best 2025 campaign, played just a handful of games before suffering a hand injury that left him sidelined again.
Despite Tanah Boyd's season-ending injury, the form of Te Maire Martin meant Metcalf struggled to force his way back into Andrew Webster's top four side.
Martin's injury just a few weeks ago opened the door for Metcalf to return, which he did emphatically with a try-scoring double in a win on home soil against the Penrith Panthers.
The St George Illawarra Dragons-bound playmarker has been in good touch since, but will now need to fight his way back for the finals.
The club have confirmed Te Maire Martin is due back in Round 26 which will give him a two-week runway at the end of the regular season to book his jersey number for the finals and potentially leave Metcalf finishing his time at the Warriors on the outside looking in.
Luke Hanson will get an opportunity to play in the halves in the meantime, with the Gold Coast Titans-bound talent impressing through lower grades this year.
He will give his spot straight back to Martin once fit, with Webster now having a selection quandry on his hands once the Warriors arrive at the knockout stages.
The Auckland-based outfit are still in the top four at this stage, and likely need just one win from their final three games against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Newcastle Knights and Manly Sea Eagles to book a second chance, although finishing in the top two for a home qualifying final will be much trickier, and they could need to win all three.
