Luckless star Luke Metcalf suffers fresh injury blow one week after comeback in Warriors’ defeat to Cronulla

Luke Metcalf’s luckless run has continued with the Warriors half suffering an apparent hamstring injury as his side succumbed to a 36-22 loss to Cronulla.

On a day when off-contract fullback Will Kennedy sent another reminder of his value to Cronulla, Metcalf limped off late as the Warriors suffered a second straight loss.

The star of last season and Dally M leader before he suffered an ACL rupture, Metcalf had only returned from that injury last week against Wests Tigers before Sunday’s blow.

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The 27-year-old looked in clear discomfort as he left the field, leaving him in significant doubt to face Melbourne next Saturday night.

Making matters worse for the Warriors will be a neck injury for centre Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who was at least cleared of a concussion.

Questions would already have been asked about the Warriors’ attack, after they won the opening three games before Metcalf’s return.

Halfback Tanah Boyd in particular had a tough afternoon on Sunday at Ocean Protect Stadium, in both attack and defence.

It was down Boyd’s right-edge defensive channel that Kennedy scored Cronulla’s first two tries, first sent over by Braydon Trindall and then Nicho Hynes.

One of several Sharks off contract at the end of this year, Kennedy had to wait until last October to have his future secured for 2026 at the Sharks.

Cronulla must decide whether they see him as the long-term No.1 at the club, or if Liam Ison is the man to take over once he returns to full flight after an ACL rupture.

What is clear is that Kennedy fits into the Sharks system.

The 28-year-old finished Sunday with nine tackle busts to go with his two tries, while he also put Sione Katoa into space late.

KL Iro also tormented the Warriors down that side with a try and nine tackle busts, as the Sharks went back into the top eight with their first back-to-back wins of 2026.

Hynes and Trindall again combined nicely in the win, while a knee injury for Jesse Ramien was the only concern for the Sharks.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scored a hat-trick of tries for the Warriors, including when he picked off a Trindall pass to go 80 metres and score in front of a chasing Kennedy.

The winger’s third — again from another brilliant corner put-down — had the Warriors back to 24-16 down after halftime.

But when Blayke Brailey grubber-kicked out of dummy-half for a chasing Teig Wilton with 30 minutes to go, the game was effectively over.