Stefano Utoikamanu #241

TYGA said:
Stef is a consequence of previous management. Player managers knew they could get contract clauses or cause trouble to get an early release after players got an opportunity at a battling club. Rich’s will end this however this was all done before he got here. We will only keep players upgrading and extending and maybe our own juniors.
Click to expand...
For all we know the contract condition could have been an ultimatum between him staying or going last time he re-signed with us and if not for that contract condition he potentially could already be playing elsewhere ?
 
I think it’s quite obvious something is building at WT’s & with Luai coming it’s looking even better but the problem is trying to sell Stef this vision yet again of sticking it out & trying to turn the club around. It’s clear though when Stef is on he is our best forward & him leaving will cause a huge hole in our forward pack. As someone said earlier losing him & Ice will be extremely tough to fix.
 
Vicious said:
The past 2 weeks have shown what he’s capable of, we might need to up our offer.
Click to expand...
Nah, after his comments in the media leading up to the game, I’d actually drop it by 50k. He’s probably gone anyway and that means he actually buys into the future if he actually wants to stay
 
Well spelt
rugbygoated said:
It's the subtle racism that often gets ignored
Click to expand...
I really don't wanna put a downer on this great win but I can't see how it's 'subtle racism'.. Just seems like slopoy lazy journos or editing whatever it's called. They do look similar to.me.sometimes,.i have to check.the jersey number on long shots on tv

I really don't wanna.lose Stef... Front rowers of his ability at his age very hard to find... His clauses will give him an out we just need to do our best to persuade him to stay, wins like todays can only help
 
If he isn't already gone we have to do what ever we can to get it over the line. You can see what he brings when he gets aggressive and that motor gets going - and Api loves him. It would be the real turning point if we could retain the ones we really want and need.
 
Odessa said:
Not porkies ....

He has not signed on for 800K and I was told today that he is off to the Roosters

Life goes on good luck to him and I hope he wins the premiership that he wants
Click to expand...
I can only see it being Roosters or Panthers tbh.

With his family connection in Sydney, I highly doubt he would move away.

Roosters would be interesting as they have Collins, Leniu, May, White already for middles and some good ones coming through.

Panthers makes sense with 2 from his management stable (iPap & Flippers) already there & JFH going to Warriors plus all this Taylan May stuff going on which would make $$$ available.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 851
Ute would be a huge loss

Hopefully he can see what's building at the tigers

The biggest problem I think we really have is that his manager will be in his ear telling him how much better the super clubs like roosters Panthers and storm are and that waiting for success at the tigers isn't worth it

I know he is inconsistent but is young for a prop and will only get better on time

if we can convince him to stay and we start winning he will turn out to be the best prop we have ever had

If he goes to one of those big clubs he will be an instant breast and a huge loss for us

Let's face it we don't really have an NRL level besides him right now

One hell of a step backwards if we lose him
 
I hope its not the case, but his body langauge and what he is saying, tells me he is out. He was all about being a leader at the club and how much we have helped him, now its, I want to be remembered as a winner. Penrith is my bet.
 
Odessa said:
Haha Unable to negotiate thats funny
Click to expand...
Whatever you were told and however true it is, he definitely has not SIGNED with anyone. At best he has had illegal clandestine discussions with another club via his manager, but he cannot sign anything with anyone at this time.

And we don't know for sure when the clauses in his contract are activated, i.e. the moment Tigers are out of finals contention or if he has to wait until end of the season for that to be a certainty.
 

NRL transfer news 2024: Wests Tigers star Lachlan Galvin urges Stefano Utoikamanu to re-sign​

Teenage Wests Tigers five-eighth Lachlan Galvin has urged Stefano Utoikamanu to follow his lead and commit his future to the club. See the latest transfer news.
Brent ReadBrent ReadSenior Sports Writer
Follow

@brentread_7

5 min read
June 24, 2024 - 4:17PM
News Sport Network

0 comments
ebab1f1906dcccb30ae9e2d50d00cca9



38:39
Tigers roar, Eels slide as Origin heats up | The Daily Telegraph NRL Podcast
The crew get to the bottom of all the speculation surrounding gun rookie... more


NRL​

Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Follow
Teenage five-eighth Lachlan Galvin has implored Stefano Utoikamanu to follow his lead and commit his future to the West Tigers as club officials launch a last-ditch bid to convince the barnstorming prop to accept a lucrative $4 million contract extension.
Utoikamanu, one of the Tigers’ best in recent weeks, is likely to be a free agent at the end of the season given a clause in his contract that makes him up for grabs once the Tigers are mathematically out of contention for the top eight.
While the Tigers have won their past two games, they need a miracle to qualify for the finals and the expectation is that the club will give Utoikamanu permission to explore his options ahead of time if they fail to convince him to accept their bumper offer.
Galvin, who recently pledged to honour the final two years of his contract, wants Utoikamanu to be alongside him to help turn around the Tigers.
Lachlan Galvin has urged Stefano Utoikamanu to commit to the Wests Tigers. Picture: Getty Images

Lachlan Galvin has urged Stefano Utoikamanu to commit to the Wests Tigers. Picture: Getty Images
“I don’t want to be versing him next year,” Galvin said.
“We muck around, I tell him ‘just stay here, just stay for a couple more years’ and I think we can turn this club around. I don’t want to be on the other side marking him.
“I’m already in the wrestle room with him and I get a bit scared. We want him here and as long as I’m here, I want him here with me. One hundred per cent we’re trying to get in his ear to stay.
“He’s a massive part of this team as you’ve seen in the last two weeks, he’s killed it. So we want him here as a Wests Tiger.”
The Tigers have done their level best to convince Utoikamanu to stay as rival clubs circle with intent, keen to step up their interest in the NSW State of Origin prop once he is given the green light to negotiate.
It shapes as a seminal decision for the Tigers after a fortnight when they showed that the future may be brighter than many anticipated. Two straight wins with a young side have given Tigers fans reason for hope as they wait on the arrival of Penrith superstar Jarome Luai next season.
The Tigers face a battle to retain Utoikamanu, as rival clubs circle the front row star. Picture: Getty Images

The Tigers face a battle to retain Utoikamanu, as rival clubs circle the front row star. Picture: Getty Images
The $4 million question is whether the past two weeks have been enough to convince Utoikamanu to stay. If not, the Tigers may be best placed scouring the market for potential replacements for Utoikamanu given they would have some significant salary cap space burning a hole in their pocket.
They have already scored one significant victory by convincing Galvin that his immediate future lies with the club. He had been agitating for an exit even though he had two years remaining on his deal such was his concern with the club’s direction and his own development.
Coach Benji Marshall and chief executive Shane Richardson convinced him to stay, effectively buying themselves just over 12 months to show the 18-year-old that the club is on the up.
As it stands, Galvin is free to negotiate with real clubs from November 1 next year but Richardson and Marshall will no doubt be working towards getting his signature on a new deal.
Galvin has reaffirmed his commitment to the Tigers, amid speculation he wanted a release from the club. Picture: NRL Photos

Galvin has reaffirmed his commitment to the Tigers, amid speculation he wanted a release from the club. Picture: NRL Photos
Galvin conceded it was hard to have people questioning his loyalty as his future become public fodder.
“Obviously it hurts,” Galvin said.
“I don’t want to let people down or let the club down that gave me my [NRL] opportunity. It was a tough two weeks for me. I think the rest was probably the best thing for me to just get back working hard.
“When I’m working hard and getting back to enjoying my footy I think that makes your performances even better. It was a rough two weeks but it was good to get that [win against Canberra] and show people that I want to change this club and I’m going to be at this club for the next two years.”
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Staff online

Members online

Total: 666 (members: 47, guests: 619)
Back
Top