logo
Double blow for Warriors with spine ripped apart

Double blow for Warriors with spine ripped apart

The Advertiser01-07-2025
The Warriors will require significant "spine surgery" to stay in the NRL's top four after fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad joined halfback Luke Metcalf on the sideline.
After receiving confirmation that Metcalf has a season-ending ACL rupture, the Warriors have now lost Nicoll-Klokstad for four weeks with a medial ligament tear.
The two injuries - suffered in Saturday's loss to Brisbane - will force a major reshuffle of a Warriors team who have shocked the NRL to sit fourth on the ladder.
The Warriors have the bye this week, but coach Andrew Webster has a number of options at both fullback and halfback the following week against Wests Tigers.
Regardless, having anyone play to the level of Metcalf this season will be a challenge, given he led the Dally M race when it went behind closed doors in May.
Tanah Boyd looms as the most likely option to fill the No.7 jersey, with the former Gold Coast halfback taking the Warriors to top spot in NSW Cup this year.
After moving from the Titans over the summer, Boyd has won all 13 games he has played in reserve grade this season.
That would allow Te Maire Martin to remain as a bench utility, after spending time at hooker, fullback and halfback in one game last week against the Broncos.
Taine Tuaupiki will almost certainly take the No.1 jersey, after doing so once earlier in the season and also playing the last month at fullback in NSW Cup.
The Warriors were already without NSW State of Origin prop Mitchell Barnett for the rest of the year with an ACL rupture, while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is also out for at least another fortnight.
"I believe in this team and the whole club. Whoever steps up from (NSW) Cup will do a good job," captain James Fisher-Harris said.
"The belief in our squad is immense. Whatever happens with injuries, I still believe in the younger boys."
Elsewhere, Manly prop Nathan Brown's season is over after he underwent surgery on a ruptured bicep following a nightmare weekend of injuries across the league.
The Dragons alone suffered eight injuries, while the Tigers' spine has been torn apart by injuries, suspensions and State of Origin duty.
There is some good news for injured Canberra winger Savelio Tamale, with the rookie-of-the-year contender's contract extended until the end of 2026.
The Warriors will require significant "spine surgery" to stay in the NRL's top four after fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad joined halfback Luke Metcalf on the sideline.
After receiving confirmation that Metcalf has a season-ending ACL rupture, the Warriors have now lost Nicoll-Klokstad for four weeks with a medial ligament tear.
The two injuries - suffered in Saturday's loss to Brisbane - will force a major reshuffle of a Warriors team who have shocked the NRL to sit fourth on the ladder.
The Warriors have the bye this week, but coach Andrew Webster has a number of options at both fullback and halfback the following week against Wests Tigers.
Regardless, having anyone play to the level of Metcalf this season will be a challenge, given he led the Dally M race when it went behind closed doors in May.
Tanah Boyd looms as the most likely option to fill the No.7 jersey, with the former Gold Coast halfback taking the Warriors to top spot in NSW Cup this year.
After moving from the Titans over the summer, Boyd has won all 13 games he has played in reserve grade this season.
That would allow Te Maire Martin to remain as a bench utility, after spending time at hooker, fullback and halfback in one game last week against the Broncos.
Taine Tuaupiki will almost certainly take the No.1 jersey, after doing so once earlier in the season and also playing the last month at fullback in NSW Cup.
The Warriors were already without NSW State of Origin prop Mitchell Barnett for the rest of the year with an ACL rupture, while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is also out for at least another fortnight.
"I believe in this team and the whole club. Whoever steps up from (NSW) Cup will do a good job," captain James Fisher-Harris said.
"The belief in our squad is immense. Whatever happens with injuries, I still believe in the younger boys."
Elsewhere, Manly prop Nathan Brown's season is over after he underwent surgery on a ruptured bicep following a nightmare weekend of injuries across the league.
The Dragons alone suffered eight injuries, while the Tigers' spine has been torn apart by injuries, suspensions and State of Origin duty.
There is some good news for injured Canberra winger Savelio Tamale, with the rookie-of-the-year contender's contract extended until the end of 2026.
The Warriors will require significant "spine surgery" to stay in the NRL's top four after fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad joined halfback Luke Metcalf on the sideline.
After receiving confirmation that Metcalf has a season-ending ACL rupture, the Warriors have now lost Nicoll-Klokstad for four weeks with a medial ligament tear.
The two injuries - suffered in Saturday's loss to Brisbane - will force a major reshuffle of a Warriors team who have shocked the NRL to sit fourth on the ladder.
The Warriors have the bye this week, but coach Andrew Webster has a number of options at both fullback and halfback the following week against Wests Tigers.
Regardless, having anyone play to the level of Metcalf this season will be a challenge, given he led the Dally M race when it went behind closed doors in May.
Tanah Boyd looms as the most likely option to fill the No.7 jersey, with the former Gold Coast halfback taking the Warriors to top spot in NSW Cup this year.
After moving from the Titans over the summer, Boyd has won all 13 games he has played in reserve grade this season.
That would allow Te Maire Martin to remain as a bench utility, after spending time at hooker, fullback and halfback in one game last week against the Broncos.
Taine Tuaupiki will almost certainly take the No.1 jersey, after doing so once earlier in the season and also playing the last month at fullback in NSW Cup.
The Warriors were already without NSW State of Origin prop Mitchell Barnett for the rest of the year with an ACL rupture, while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is also out for at least another fortnight.
"I believe in this team and the whole club. Whoever steps up from (NSW) Cup will do a good job," captain James Fisher-Harris said.
"The belief in our squad is immense. Whatever happens with injuries, I still believe in the younger boys."
Elsewhere, Manly prop Nathan Brown's season is over after he underwent surgery on a ruptured bicep following a nightmare weekend of injuries across the league.
The Dragons alone suffered eight injuries, while the Tigers' spine has been torn apart by injuries, suspensions and State of Origin duty.
There is some good news for injured Canberra winger Savelio Tamale, with the rookie-of-the-year contender's contract extended until the end of 2026.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Could've shown 10': Daicos pulled up for act as attitude issue emerges
‘Could've shown 10': Daicos pulled up for act as attitude issue emerges

News.com.au

timean hour ago

  • News.com.au

‘Could've shown 10': Daicos pulled up for act as attitude issue emerges

Nick Daicos has received criticism for instances of demanding the footy in poor positions amid a wider and more pertinent concern around the Pies' 'unhealthy' overreliance on their superstar. Fox Footy's On the Couch revealed vision of Daicos last Saturday night — running towards the boundary line with his direct opponent in close proximity — demanding the ball from his brother, then openly venting his frustration after not receiving the handball. The piece of play was from Collingwood's 27-point loss to Brisbane, in which Daicos — the leading contender for this year's Brownlow Medal — had a team-high 29 disposals and game-high nine score involvements. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. But four-time Hawthorn premiership star Jordan Lewis on Monday night suggested it was a poor 'habit' creeping into the superstar's game. 'You're starting to see this maybe creep into his (Daicos') game a little bit, where you're calling for the ball in areas where you might not be as dangerous,' he said. 'I think anyone who realises when Josh Daicos gets the ball, he can be OK, but it's probably (Nick's) after attitude — 'why didn't you give it to me?' 'So, when you see that in a player ... I could've shown 10 (examples). It's a habit. (There's) a balance between wanting the ball and wanting the ball in the wrong spots.' Over the past six rounds, Daicos has been involved in a whopping 43 per cent of Collingwood's scores, which ranks number one in the competition. But in his overarching contention, Lewis posed the idea that there's an overreliance on the Brownlow Medal candidate at Collingwood. 'There's got to be a balance in it,' he continued. 'So, 43 per cent of (scores), the ball goes through Nick — that's obviously a big tick. 'But you can't be calling for the ball, and you can't be expected to give the ball to a player, no matter how dangerous they are, when they're not in a dangerous position.' Asked by triple Richmond premiership star Jack Riewoldt — who called the 43 per cent involvement figure 'unhealthy' — if he thought it was a bad habit that has developed because of him being tagged, Lewis said: 'No, I don't think so. 'I think he's been really good in terms of mixing up his positions. He's the Brownlow Medal favourite for a reason ... he may need some help in that area. 'I think, if you look at their list — and we brought up Dan Houston last week to (ask) where is he best suited, and he hasn't found his absolute niche on the half-backline — is he one of the players, in terms of centre-forward distributors, that you might try and expose to that midfield group?' Last Saturday night against the Lions, Houston managed just 11 disposals for 217 metres gained and four clangers, with his standing in Craig McRae's side questioned.

NRL must act as expansion team faces impending doom
NRL must act as expansion team faces impending doom

News.com.au

timean hour ago

  • News.com.au

NRL must act as expansion team faces impending doom

The champagne has barely had time to go flat since the Bears were triumphantly reinstated and it already looks like they'll need to merge with Manly again. Yes, it's been a glorious honeymoon for the black-and-red diehards since the Perth franchise was welcomed as the NRL's newest entity. But sadly all the talk of dream signings and fantasy XIII's have now been swamped with the jarring realisation that assembling an actual NRL squad within 18 months might be a bigger b*stard than first expected. Even though the club can't approach any contracted players until after November 1st, already there are massive concerns piling up about the monstrous task ahead. Let's remember this is a franchise building from a standing start with nothing more than a history, a logo and a Florimo. Plus there's the stress of launching the project against a timeframe that's like packing a scrum with a five second shot clock and six wingers. Further to that, they're humbly entering an AFL stronghold policed by Kerry Stokes' media monopoly, meaning they'll cop stones from the moment they disembark the plane let alone if they start the season like a cold Toyota Cressida. But of greatest concern is the squad building exercise, mainly because the Bears will be fishing in a parched player market of catfish, dregs and expensive teases. Add the Papua New Guinea franchise soon to be feeding from the same pool, and coach Mal Meninga's biggest issue could be getting himself fit enough again to play in the centres. Sure, nobody claimed it would be a cinch convincing 30 blokes to relocate across the country to a timezone closer to Jakarta than Sydney. But the challenges were never a secret, and that's why there's one major stakeholder in this arrangement that's dropped its lollies. Peter V'landys and the ARLC should be fiercely applauded for reintroducing the Bears back to rugby league and for gifting Western Australia the team it deserves. But after months of subluxing their shoulders patting themselves on the back, it's time they threw genuine support behind the new licence that isn't just standing at press conferences throwing shade at the AFL. As we know, the PNG licence will be reportedly armed with a festoon of salary cap exemptions relating to tax free salaries and relocation costs, whereas the only exemption the Bears have thus far is from good players and hope. If V'Landys is serious about the Perth club being 'competitive in the first year' then he needs to wake up and afford the Bears the same licence to spend with abandon. And if he doesn't, the club is doomed before it even starts. Without help, the Bears franchise will serve its formative years abused by AFL narks and sneaky player agents bumping up their client's asking price. Already we've seen blue chip prospects dropping off by the day for the fledging franchise, with Kalyn Ponga, Jahrome Hughes and Api Koroisau the latest ruled out after restating their commitment to Eastern Standard Time. This has left so little to get excited about that attention has turned to star targets in Cameron Munster and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui even though both are contracted for 2027. Undoubtedly these blokes are needle-moving names who'd cost the farm for any club. But with the mooted Bear Tax applied to their already-exorbitant asking price, their cost to relocate West is already being speculated to cost upwards of $2m a season. And while we'd all love a Tino in the middle or a Munny on a 10 hour round trip flight once a fortnight, if the Bears are forced to stump up the figures discussed within the NRL's current salary cap of $11.8m they'll barely have enough left over for a bench. Here's where the NRL needs to stop being a tightarse by padding out the Bears salary cap with more support and extra zeros. Allow the Perth club 15% on top of the agreed figure and bolster this with some kinda special access to local juniors, ie Penrith's. Then pick up the bill for any relocation costs and flak jackets required when the squad is first smuggled in to town past Perth's Channel Seven bureau. Then to keep these far-flung heroes happy despite being five hours away surrounded by West Coast Eagles fans and bikies, the NRL needs to legislate the Bears access to ceiling-free third party agreements. As we know, statistics allege that Perth's population currently stands at 87% mining magnates. And while many have their revenue tied up in AFL, it means with some gentle convincing there could be an NRL franchise backed by the most powerful person in Australia, and it wouldn't be PNG and Anthony Albanese. With help from the NRL, the Bears could jump in bed with Gina Rinehart and access that sweet mining cabbage so they can fish in the player market with dynamite.

Ryan Fox to lead New Zealand assault on Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland
Ryan Fox to lead New Zealand assault on Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland

News.com.au

time2 hours ago

  • News.com.au

Ryan Fox to lead New Zealand assault on Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland

Ryan Fox broke through for his maiden PGA Tour win in 2025, then grabbed his second just weeks later, and the Kiwi star is now bringing his career-best form to Royal Queensland for this year's Australian PGA Championship. Fox, whose most recent Australian PGA tilt was in 2022, has enjoyed a stunning season in the US, winning the Myrtle Beach Classic, in his 72nd start on the PGA Tour, then doubled up with a stunning victory at the star-studded Canadian Open. His brilliant form has lifted Fox to 32 on the world rankings, one spot ahead of the highest-ranked Australian, Jason Day, and the New Zealander could be the highest-ranked player in the field at the PGA in November. 'Being part of it at the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland is something I'm very much looking forward to,' said the 38-year-old Fox, who is preparing for this week's start to the PGA Tour playoffs at the St. Jude Championship in Memphis. 'I had some good success on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia in my very early days on tour which helped to give my career a nice kick along,' he said. 'Winning one of the big tournaments like the PGA would be a real highlight. 'Brisbane is also close to home, so lots of friends and family will hopefully get the chance to come out which should make for a really enjoyable week.' Fox has won 19 times worldwide in a decorated career that includes success on the DP World Tour, which co-sanctions the Australia PGA with the PGA Tour of Australasia. He will head a Kiwi assault on the Joe Kirkwood Cup in Brisbane from November 27-30 that will also include Daniel Hillier and Kazumi Kobori. Hillier, a former British Masters winner, is 13th on the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai standings. Kobori, who like Fox is a past PGA Tour of Australasia order of merit and player of the year winner, finished third at the recent BMW International in Germany. PGA of Australia general manager of tournaments and global tour relationships Nick Dastey said having Fox, Hillier and Kobori at this year's Australian PGA Championship was a 'huge bonus'. 'Ryan is in the middle of the best year of his career, proving once again what an outstanding competitor he is by winning twice against the best in the world on the PGA Tour,' Dastey said. 'Likewise, Daniel and Kazuma have already had great results in 2025 and would no doubt love to add the BMW Australian PGA Championship to their list of achievements. 'We haven't had a Kiwi winner since Greg Turner in 1999, but with these three great contenders in the field, plus the other New Zealand pros who will join them from our tour, you definitely can't discount it this year.' Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said: 'As Australia's lifestyle capital, Brisbane is proud to welcome some of New Zealand's top golfing talent as part of this much-loved event. 'Hosting the Australian PGA Championship isn't just a sporting highlight, it's a major economic win for our city, creating more to see and do for residents and visitors.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store