LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The St George Illawarra Dragons have emerged as the frontrunners to secure the talents of Luke Metcalf, the standout halfback for the New Zealand Warriors.
Metcalf, 26, showcased his impressive skills and became one of the top halfbacks in the league during the first half of the 2025 season, but an ACL injury cut his campaign short.
As he works towards recovery from a potential 12-month layoff, the Warriors have proposed a two-year contract extension to keep him at the club until at least the end of 2028.
However, there are no guarantees that he will accept this offer, as he may be considering a return to Australia.
As of now, the expectation is that he will enter free agency on November 1 to explore his market options.
The Perth Bears are likely to make a serious attempt to sign him, but journalist Michael Carayannis suggested on Triple M Radio that the Dragons are the team to keep an eye on in this situation.
"It's a big couple of weeks for Luke Metcalf, the Warriors have put an offer to him, a two-year extension," Carayannis stated.