Stefano Utoikamanu #241

[Garrry]

The WESTS TIGERS need Stefano more than the BLUES do in 2024

 

[Todd Packer]

He must be more talented than I give him credit for.
If imbecile Maguire, who picked Mbye every week and re-signed Brooks doesn't think he's any good he must be the next Arthur Beetson.

 

[Todd Packer]

If he wants to leave at the end of the season and miss out on what's coming in 25 then off ya go son.
It's not like he's hard to replace.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

The WESTS TIGERS need Stefano more than the BLUES do in 2024

he doesn't play for nsw he can leave in 2025 so outlook not that good
tipping he does leave and goes to a heavyweight club or the dogs who need a prop

 

[twentyforty]

He must be more talented than I give him credit for.
If imbecile Maguire, who picked Mbye every week and re-signed Brooks doesn't think he's any good he must be the next Arthur Beetson.

Yeh, fair enough. He‘s been taking it steady since the ankle injury.

 

[tonza]

No real loss. I would have traded him to the Roosters and taken Leniu.

Stefano is soft as and shouldn’t have been there this year.

I agree he is soft at this stage of his career however I feel he will harden up with experience. I remember the days when Sirro was considered soft and look how he hardened up.

 

[Tito Santana]

I agree he is soft at this stage of his career however I feel he will harden up with experience. I remember the days when Sirro was considered soft and look how he hardened up.

Hope so mate.

Stefano reminds me of the late Jerry Collins the ex All Black.

He was great but I thought he could have been more aggressive.

 

[Glenji95]

I’m hoping he can get back to his 2021 form, otherwise I won’t lose any sleep if he moves on.

 

[twentyforty]

he doesn't play for nsw he can leave in 2025 so outlook not that good
tipping he does leave and goes to a heavyweight club or the dogs who need a prop

He would have caught the eye of Chooks when he stood his ground in a face off with JWH. It doesn’t get better than the big middles shirt fronting lol

 

[Halbrowne61]

Well let’s hope this rejection spurs him in to prove a point, to himself, his club and Madge.
( PS. Does anyone know where/why he got the nickname Madge ?)

 

[stephen]

Hope so mate.

Stefano reminds me of the late Jerry Collins the ex All Black.

He was great but I thought he could have been more aggressive.

If Stef turns out half as good as Jerry, we'll all be pretty happy.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Look at the forwards for NSW and can see why Stef missed out. It’s up to him to lift and earn the spot, hope he does.

 

[batboy]

Well let’s hope this rejection spurs him in to prove a point, to himself, his club and Madge.
( PS. Does anyone know where/why he got the nickname Madge ?)

Maguire - Mag - Madge

 

[Halbrowne61]

Maguire - Mag - Madge

Is it that easy ? Ok thanks.
I thought he might have had some strange dress up habits 🤣🤣🤣

 

[Telltails]

I like Stef but damn sure if his form was better that he would be in the SOO squad, and that is the only reason he wasn't picked.

 

[Halbrowne61]

I like Stef but damn sure if his form was better that he would be in the SOO squad, and that is the only reason he wasn't picked.

Of course TT so let’s hope he gets that !!!
And gets angry about it !!!

 

[a_dog]

Think it was ridiculous he was picked ahead of Klemmer last year to be honest.

 

[hank37w]

Well let’s hope this rejection spurs him in to prove a point, to himself, his club and Madge.
( PS. Does anyone know where/why he got the nickname Madge ?)

I thought it was because he copped so much criticism that he was actually soaking in it.

 

[Spartan117]

Emerging Tiger star pledges allegiance to club despite rare clause: Off-season Central​

Johns anoints new Knights’ halfback; two NRL stars sentenced in court — Off-season Central

Johns anoints new Knights’ halfback; two NRL stars sentenced in court — Off-season Central

www.foxsports.com.au

Tigers forward Stefano Utoikamanu has stated his commitment to the club, despite holding a clause in his contract that will allow him to sign with another team if the Tigers miss the finals in 2024.

On the back of two consecutive wooden spoons, the smart money would suggest the Tigers won’t be playing finals football this season, but the club has now begun a new era with rookie coach Benji Marshall at the helm.

Utoikamanu, who has played 51 games with the Tigers since joining the club in 2021, told the SMH that he wants to “give back to the club”.

“I’m trying to focus on making the top eight, that’s what I want to do. I want to stay at the Tigers,” Utoikamanu said.

“I’ve loved every minute I’ve been here. They’ve given me my big opportunity to become the player I am now.

“I haven’t listened (to the speculation).

“Benji is big on ‘team first’, and putting others before yourself, so that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Utoikamanu had a strong campaign in a bad team last year, which resulted in a somewhat surprising maiden Blues jersey.

Justly or unjustly, Utoikamanu only played 12 minutes off the bench for NSW in Game II before being dropped.

In another representative blow, the 23-year-old wasn’t in new Blues coach Michael Maguire’s 35-man squad which met at NSWRL headquarters over the weekend.

While it means Utoikamanu’s Blues hopes appear slim this season, he said Maguire did contact him.

“He gave me a call, he said he wasn’t going to include me in the squad, but he didn’t really say too much else,” Utoikamanu said.

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117 - This is a Great attitude from a star of the future.

 

[BAGNF05]

These constant Stefano stories are clearly planted by a smart agent to drum up interest. Mind you the big fella needs to up his play this year to warrant a big deal. I suspect he’s in for a big one and we’ll have to fight hard to keep him.