Two games into his career with NZ Warriors, rookie half Luke Metcalf is still pinching himself that he gets to rub shoulders with club icon Shaun Johnson.
Metcalf, 24, signed for the Warriors in 2021, but has had to wait until mid-2023 to run out for the club after a combination of waiting out his contract with Cronulla Sharks, and a lengthy injury stint.
But after missing the first 12 rounds of the season with a hamstring issue, Metcalf made his long-awaited club debut in the defeat to Brisbane Broncos.
On Saturday, Metcalf ticked off his first win and scored his first try in Warriors colours in victory over Redcliffe Dolphins.
In the past few seasons, the Warriors have been hampered by both players and coaches signing for the club, before wanting exits due to not wanting to relocate to New Zealand.
Living in Aotearoa is no issue for Metcalf, though, who makes it clear how much he's enjoying his new surroundings.
"It's good so far," said Metcalf. "I'm loving living here, me and my partner moved over together. It's good having someone here with me.
"I'm loving being around all the boys, they're all very welcoming. I've made a couple of good mates already.
"I'm loving the vibe around the city, and the Warriors club in general."
Despite coach Andrew Webster saying he sees Metcalf as a long-term option in the No.7 jersey, a broken leg to five-eighth Te Maire Martin has seen him utilised at No.6, alongside Johnson.
Metcalf and Johnson have already shared time together playing for the Sharks, before the youngster followed the Warriors veteran to Auckland.
Now playing together for the last three weeks - and likely to team up against away to Canberra Raiders on Friday - Metcalf is relishing playing alongside a player he's always looked up to.
And as Johnson enjoys a career-best season with the Warriors, Metcalf has the best seat in the house to watch him do what he does best.
"It's pretty cool, he was one of my favourite players when I was younger," he added. "It's always cool to play with one of your heroes from when you were younger.
"I'm still learning off him, the way he plays is just really good. There's things in his game that I want to take into mine.
"It's pretty cool."
However, the future is uncertain for all of the Warriors' halves - Metcalf included.
At present, the club has four contracted halves for 2024 - with Metcalf and Martin joined by Ronald Volkman and the returning Chanel Harris-Tavita.
Johnson could also add a fifth name to that list, currently off contract at the end of 2023 but outlining he doesn't want to play anywhere else.
But with competition for places rife, Metcalf knows exactly what he has to do to stay in Webster's first-team plans.
"I know it's cliche, but I've just got to take each game as it comes," he continued. "It was only my second game of the year last week.
"I literally just have to actually take it one game at a time and just focus on every week - training, getting better at training every day and trying to build on my game slowly.
"I was a little bit annoyed with how I played my first game. So each week I'm just trying to build on that and go from there."
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