NZ Warriors youngster Luke Metcalf made a triumphant return to the field, shining in the club's reserve grade draw with Canterbury Bulldogs.
After joining the Warriors this season from Cronulla Sharks, 24-year-old Metcalf has been out of action since February, suffering a hamstring injury after shining in a 48-12 pre-season win over Wests Tigers.
Metcalf signed for the Warriors at the end of 2021, but is yet to play for the Kiwi club in an official match after seeing out his previous contract with Cronulla.
Playing at halfback, Metcalf got through 41 minutes, scoring once and landing his only conversion attempt, breaking the line once, creating one linebreak assist and breaking four tackles on attack.
On defence, Metcalf made 12 tackles, and missed only one for a success rate of more than 92 percent.
"It was good to get back out there, for 40 minutes," Metcalf told said on the Warriors' social media channels.
"I wish I was out there for the ending. It felt good, good to get 40 minutes out of the way.
"I'm happy to be back. The hammys [hamstrings] felt good - 12, 13 weeks of rehab, you'd want to be feeling good.
"It felt good running and stepping. Everything felt better than usual - I'm excited."
Metcalf will use the Warriors' reserve grade side to return to full fitness before any potential NRL comeback.
When Metcalf is available for the Warriors, the young half will give coach Andrew Webster options to partner Shaun Johnson, with Te Maire Martin and now potentially Ronald Volkman - who played through injury in Friday's win over Canterbury Bulldogs.
After 11 games, the Warriors sit third in the New South Wales Cup standings, with seven wins, one draw and three defeats to start their season.
