NRL: NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster undecided on Shaun Johnson's 2024 halves partner

While Shaun Johnson is locked in to be NZ Warriors' first-choice in the No.7 jersey for this year's NRL season, just who lines up alongside him is anyone's guess.  

With the club's first game of the 2024 season - against Cronulla Sharks on March 8 - getting closer by the day, the Warriors' pre-season concludes on Saturday, taking on the Dolphins in their second trial match.  

Last weekend, a largely rotated Warriors side took the field against Wests Tigers in Christchurch, however, this week will see as close to the first-choice team as possible.

As part of that, Luke Metcalf will don the No.6 next to Johnson, moving infield to five-eighth after starting at halfback against the Tigers.  

But while Metcalf would appear to have the inside running on the race to partner Johnson, coach Andrew Webster concedes that spot is far from sewn up.  

Elsewhere, the duo of Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita have both been named on an extended bench to face the Dolphins.  

And with three quality options to pick from, Webster is grateful for the choice he'll have to make as to who to leave out to start the season.  

"It's tough," said Webster. "But it's a good headache.  

"It's something you want at each club, a headache. You've got three really good players who could be No.6.   

"Who do you pick? Everyone says 'poor me'. I'd rather that than have no one to pick, and not know what to do.

While Johnson was an ever-present in the Warriors' side in their 2023 run and came within a whisker of the NRL's Dally M medal, his halves partner - for one reason or another - didn't have the same luxury.  

Martin, 28, started the season at No.6 but suffered a broken leg that sidelined him for most of 2023.  

Despite being the senior five-eighth on the Warriors' books, Martin played just nine games and assisted two tries.  

Meanwhile, in his first season with the club, Metcalf also endured a frustrating year,  

After an impressive display against the Tigers in pre-season, the 25-year-old didn't debut until round 13.  

Once he was back on the field, though, Metcalf didn't look back. In 12 games, Metcalf scored six tries and assisted three more before his season ended prematurely by a hamstring complaint, and missed the Warriors' finals campaign.

Harris-Tavita, on the other hand, didn't play at all in 2023 after taking a year out of rugby league.

But after breaking through into the NRL from the Warriors' junior ranks, the club re-signed him as soon as he was ready to come back.  

Still only 24, Harris-Tavita has played 54 times for the Warriors, scored seven tries and assisted 17, with the majority of those coming in Johnson's absence after his move to Cronulla Sharks in 2019. 

While Shaun Johnson is locked in to be NZ Warriors' first-choice in the No.7 jersey for this year's NRL season, just who lines up alongside him is anyone's guess.  

With the club's first game of the 2024 season - against Cronulla Sharks on March 8 - getting closer by the day, the Warriors' pre-season concludes on Saturday, taking on the Dolphins in their second trial match.  

Last weekend, a largely rotated Warriors side took the field against Wests Tigers in Christchurch, however, this week will see as close to the first-choice team as possible.

As part of that, Luke Metcalf will don the No.6 next to Johnson, moving infield to five-eighth after starting at halfback against the Tigers.  

But while Metcalf would appear to have the inside running on the race to partner Johnson, coach Andrew Webster concedes that spot is far from sewn up.  

Elsewhere, the duo of Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita have both been named on an extended bench to face the Dolphins.  

And with three quality options to pick from, Webster is grateful for the choice he'll have to make as to who to leave out to start the season.  

"It's tough," said Webster. "But it's a good headache.  

"It's something you want at each club, a headache. You've got three really good players who could be No.6.   

"Who do you pick? Everyone says 'poor me'. I'd rather that than have no one to pick, and not know what to do.

While Johnson was an ever-present in the Warriors' side in their 2023 run and came within a whisker of the NRL's Dally M medal, his halves partner - for one reason or another - didn't have the same luxury.  

Martin, 28, started the season at No.6 but suffered a broken leg that sidelined him for most of 2023.  

Despite being the senior five-eighth on the Warriors' books, Martin played just nine games and assisted two tries.  

Meanwhile, in his first season with the club, Metcalf also endured a frustrating year,  

After an impressive display against the Tigers in pre-season, the 25-year-old didn't debut until round 13.  

Once he was back on the field, though, Metcalf didn't look back. In 12 games, Metcalf scored six tries and assisted three more before his season ended prematurely by a hamstring complaint, and missed the Warriors' finals campaign.

Harris-Tavita, on the other hand, didn't play at all in 2023 after taking a year out of rugby league.

But after breaking through into the NRL from the Warriors' junior ranks, the club re-signed him as soon as he was ready to come back.  

Still only 24, Harris-Tavita has played 54 times for the Warriors, scored seven tries and assisted 17, with the majority of those coming in Johnson's absence after his move to Cronulla Sharks in 2019. 

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