Luke Metcalf of the Warriors is helped off the field. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The Warriors have suffered a major setback with half Luke Metcalf ruled out for the bulk of the NRL season with a broken leg.
Metcalf suffered the injury in the Warriors' 21-12 win over the Newcastle Knights at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland on Easter Sunday.
He went down in a seemingly harmless tackle inside the first 10 minutes of the match, but broke his tibia and had to be assisted from the field.
Subsequent scans showed the seriousness of the injury and Metcalf has now undergone surgery. He faces three months on the sidelines and is not expected back until late in the season.
It is a cruel blow for the 25-year-old, who missed the Warriors' run to the finals last year due to a torn hamstring.
The Warriors do have plenty of depth in the halves, with Chanel Harris-Tavita ably coming of the bench to replace Metcalf in Sunday's win.
The Warriors currently sit 10th in the standings with two wins from four games and are away to the South Sydney Rabbitohs this weekend.
Luke Metcalf is taken to hospital after breaking his leg. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz