NRL Team List: Metcalf back for Pasifika Night
Playmaker Luke Metcalf is back ahead of schedule for the One New Zealand Warriors’ round four Pasifika Night encounter with the Wests Tigers at Go Media Stadium on Friday night (8.00pm kick-off).
The 27-year-old’s 2025 campaign was ended by an ACL knee injury in the round 17 clash against the Broncos in Brisbane last June.
Initially slated to return as late as round 10 this season, his comeback came forward to round six last week and today he has been confirmed to slot straight back into the halves in partnership with in-from Tanah Boyd for the first time.
Boyd has again been named at halfback with Metcalf in the #6 jersey, his return a major boost coming just a week after co-captain Mitchell Barnett came back from his knee injury to make his 50th appearance for the Warriors last Saturday.
Three other frontliners also return after missing the 38-12 win over Newcastle last week.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Jeral Skelton
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Adam PompeyCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Sunia Turuva
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Heamasi Makasini
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-SheckWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Luke Laulilii
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke MetcalfFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Jock Madden
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Tanah BoydHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Adam Doueihi
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jackson FordProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Leka Halasima2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam HealeyInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Tristan Hope
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Mitchell BarnettInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Sione Fainu
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric VaimaugaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Royce Hunt
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tanner Stowers-SmithInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Alex Seyfarth
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Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Marata NiukoreInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Bunty Afoa
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Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Chanel Harris-TavitaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 19 Faaletino Tavana
Reserves
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Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Taine TuaupikiReserve for Wests Tigers is number 20 Tony Sukkar
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Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Alofiana Khan-PereiraReserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Latu Fainu
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Reserve for Warriors is number 23 Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaReserve for Wests Tigers is number 22 Patrick Herbert
Warriors Ins
- Adam Pompey
- Chanel Harris-Tavita
- Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
- Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
- Luke Metcalf
Wests Tigers Ins
- Bunty Afoa
- Faaletino Tavana
- Latu Fainu
- Tony Sukkar
Warriors Outs
- Luke Hanson
- Morgan Gannon
Wests Tigers Ins
- Jarome Luai
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Chanel Harris-Tavita were both ruled out last week as they followed NRL concussion protocols after head knocks in the 40-6 round two win over minor premiers the Canberra Raiders.
Adam Pompey stayed in Auckland to be with his wife Casey for the birth of their daughter Kiara Dawn, delivered the same day (March 21) his teammates beat the Newcastle Knights to move to the top of the NRL table after three straight wins.
He returns to his customary centre role on the left edge where Leka Halasima filled in on Saturday, Nicoll-Klokstad is at fullback again for Taine Tuaupiki and Harris-Tavita is on the extended bench.
Halasima, who has four tries in the first three games, reverts to the second row where he was due to play last week before Pompey was ruled out.
The extended bench of nine comprises Sam Healey, Barnett, Demitric Vaimauga, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Marata Niukore, Harris-Tavita, Tuaupiki, Alofi Khan-Pereira and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava.
The One New Zealand Warriors have won the opening three matches of the season for only the second time in the club’s history; the first was in 2018 when the Warriors put together a run of five victories on end to open the campaign.
In 39 matches against the Tigers they have a 23-16 win-loss record having won the last nine straight and 10 of the last 11 encounters.
