NSW Cup Team List: Metcalf moves to halfback

Luke Metcalf’s comeback from a four-month layoff goes up a level when the One New Zealand Warriors take on South Sydney in their 23rd-round New South Wales Cup clash on Sunday.

The match, along with the Jersey Flegg Cup game between the two clubs, has been taken down the southern motorway to Bruce Pulman Park in Takanini with the under-21 contest kicking off at 10.00am followed by the NSW Cup encounter at 12.00pm.

Well away from Go Media Stadium the 25-year-old Metcalf will take on more responsibility.

While the plan last week proved successful easing him back with 40 minutes on the field, he’s expected to play for the full 80 minutes on Sunday.

Not only that but, in a week when veteran halfback Shaun Johnson announced his retirement, Metcalf has been given the No 7 jersey.

He was well involved in last Friday night’s 46-10 win over Parramatta but will have a much heavier workload with the task of steering the team around this time.

Other players with NRL experience named in the side on Tuesday were fullback Taine Tuaupiki, centre Moala Graham-Taufa, props Bunty Afoa and Zyon Maiu’u, hooker Paul Roache, second rower Jacob Laban and loose forward Kalani Going.

The Warriors are lying fifth on 29 points going into the round while the Rabbitohs are 12th on 15 points.