Warriors halfback Luke Metcalf has hinted he is likely to be back in the NRL ahead of schedule from his knee injury.

The Australian has been out since June, having ruptured the ACL ligament in his right knee in round 17 against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.

It was a devastating blow for Metcalf, who had been top of the Dally M points leaderboard when voting went into secrecy after round 12.

However, his recovery is tracking strongly. At last week’s season launch, Metcalf told The Big League Podcast he is unrestricted at training.

“I’ve passed all my testing, so tomorrow I’ll be back. Last week was my first week knowing I’m not really restricted in much, so now’s the good part. I get to actually train with the boys and do all the good stuff.”

Luke Metcalf is back to full training. Photo / Photosport

Metcalf - who is signed until the end of 2028 - is expected to return for the Warriors in round seven against the Gold Coast Titans at Mt Smart on April 18.

However, he said the timeline is likely to be shifted forward.

“I don’t really have a week, but I know it’ll be pretty early. It won’t be that late, but yeah, not too stressed. I haven’t actually said, oh bang, it’s going to be this date.

“I’ve got um a few boxes just to tick with the boys. I need some reps and some Ks in the legs, training with the team. Once I get through a couple weeks of that, I think then I’ll be able to maybe put a timeline on it.”

Last year, the then 26-year-old’s injury was a massive blow to the Warriors title hopes, having already lost skipper Mitch Barnett to the same injury a month earlier against the Rabbitohs in Sydney.

Metcalf admits it was a frustrating period.

“But I feel like ever since preseason got back underway, I’ve been feeling really good. I’ve been training with big Mitch Barnett, pretty similar in sort of where we’re at with our rehab, so yeah, it was good to have someone to do it with.

“As frustrating as it is at the start, the longer you go on, I feel like the easier it gets. And now I’m at the back end, and the light’s at the end of the tunnel, so I’ll be all right.”

The Warriors are faced with an early injury toll in the halves, with Te Maire Martin breaking his leg while playing for the Māori in the All Stars game. The veteran is out for 12 weeks, meaning he is expected back by round 10, when the Warriors have the bye.

Metcalf said Martin’s injury initially looked like nothing.

“It didn’t look like it was anything bad, but obviously just copped a knock on on the outside of his leg there and it’s frustrating for him doing that two weeks before the season starts.

“He’s in good spirits. He’s a bit of a larrikin, he’s a character. We know about a 12 week recovery, so we know by about round 10 hopefully he’ll be he’ll be back and and mixing it with the boys.”

Te Maire Martin suffered an injury during the NRL All Stars match. Photo / Photosport

Metcalf admits the key to success for the Warriors this year could be as simple as staying healthy.

“It always helps if everyone’s fit and firing. Over the last few rounds last year, the healthiest teams got to the pointy end of the season. But mix that in with getting better, building combinations, playing together for longer, I feel like that all plays a part. If you can stay injury free, that might be half the battle.”

Barnett is expected back in round two against the Canberra Raiders in Auckland for what will be his final season at the club.

Last week, the co-captain announced he will return to Australia at the end of the season for family reasons, having been released by the Warriors on compassionate grounds.

Metcalf said Barnett is one of his best mates at the club.

“I don’t think there’s any other way you can look at it other than empathy and compassion. He’s someone that puts in blood, sweat and tears for this club and he’ll continue to do so this year. Nothing’s going to change for him.

“As players, as fans, we should rally around someone like that, and I feel like that’s what everyone has done. I’m obviously devastated as a player that he has to go - I want him on my team. But as a mate, I’m just really happy for him that he gets to go home and does what he needs to do for his family, because that’s what’s most important and I think everyone would agree on that.”

Nathan Limm has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates rugby and netball for Gold Sport.