Stefano Utoikamanu #241

It's interesting reading soft Steph being talked about like he's Haas to the power of 10.
I must be Johnny Cypher in dimension zero because I only ever see him play like a pustule on legs getting regularly popped.
 
Tiger_Yoshi said:
After only a few months Spencer Leniu has pledged he wants to be a Chook for life…. Why won’t Sefano say the same….?we never hear that from the tigers players
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Coz they don’t have Uncle Nick holding a shotgun at his head, saying” you owe us brother for your racist stupidity”. Now we’ll look after you but you need to pledge your undying loyalty !
Now Stef is being told, “we want you but feel free to weigh up your options and please let us know before the media”.
And if you stay, you too can be another Alex Twal.
Therein lies the difference TY !
 
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The Wests Tigers have moved to keep Stefano Utoikamanu away from circling clubs, offering the prop forward a five-year, $4 million contract extension until the end of 2029.

The club hopes the long-term extension deal will prevent one of the NRL’s most in-demand players from hitting the open market.

Utoikamanu has a clause in his contract that means he will become a free agent unless he plays two games in this year’s State of Origin series. It can be negated if the Tigers finish in the top eight. The option for next year is worth between $600,000-$700,000.

With the Tigers near the bottom of the ladder after eight straight losses, and due to miss another finals series, Utoikamanu’s future will largely hinge on whether Blues coach Michael Maguire picks him in the NSW team for game two in three weeks.

The $4 million Tigers offer came days after he missed out on Maguire’s team for game one in Sydney on Wednesday.

This masthead has previously reported that there is an undertaking between Tigers chief Shane Richardson and Utoikamanu’s agent Daniel O’Loughlin to avoid waiting until the club is no longer a mathematical chance of playing finals football before deciding his future.

Stefano Utoikamanu in action for the Tigers.

Stefano Utoikamanu in action for the Tigers.CREDIT:GETTY

It’s not in the Tigers’ interests for Utoikamanu to decide late in the season that he wants to leave, which would restrict their replacement options and place uncertainty around their salary cap management.
Sources with knowledge of the situation, talking under the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely, said Utoikamanu’s agent was preparing to ask for permission to negotiate with rival clubs if the 24-year-old misses out on selection in Origin II.

The Tigers want to seal a deal before then, and have presented an offer to keep Utoikamanu at the club for the same length of time as incoming marquee man Jarome Luai.

Several rival clubs, who are monitoring the situation closely, are aware of the Tigers’ attempts to retain Utoikamanu.

Stefano Utoikamanu made his one and only Origin appearance last year.


Stefano Utoikamanu made his one and only Origin appearance last year.CREDIT:GETTY
Their offer, which averages out about $800,000 per year, is less than the $900,000 figure previous chief executive Justin Pascoe indicated the club would be willing to spend to retain the young front-rower.
His successor Richardson is trying to overhaul the Tigers roster and wants Utoikamanu to join Luai as the centrepieces of the club’s rebuild under Benji Marshall.

The Tigers have already allowed Isaiah Papali’i to be released from the final year of his deal to take up an offer at Penrith from next season. Richardson has also been busy trying to offload players like Jayden Sullivan and Brent Naden in England over the past fortnight.

The Tigers are also close to parting ways with hooker Jake Simpkin. The 22-year-old is on a deal worth about $400,000 this year but the Tigers are in discussions with the Manly Sea Eagles about an immediate exit.
The sticking point remains how many years Manly are willing to offer beyond the end of this season.
His manager, Isaac Moses, is in discussion with Manly about a move as early as this week. He could be included in the Sea Eagles team to play against the Panthers at BlueBet Stadium on Sunday.

Simpkin was brought to the Tigers from Queensland under the Maguire regime but has fallen out of favour.
The talented dummy half will provide cover for Lachlan Croker (head/neck injury) at the Sea Eagles. Croker hasn’t played since round nine against the Canberra Raiders.
 
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