Stefano Utoikamanu #241

[Vicious]

Don't know what's up with you today. Roosters are offering Crichton, in excellent form for club and state 750k, they got Leniu, another origin prop for 525k. There's no way a questionable player from the Tigers gazumps then all. None.

The Roosters won’t be getting Angus Crichton to re-sign for 750k and nobody will get big Stef to sign with them for under 800k.
When there are very few quality players on the market their price inflated because of it.

 

[Needaname]

Rubbish - Luai negotiated after November 2023 when he was free to do so - he had merely advised the club that he would test the market therefore Penrith automatically had the 10-day cooling off period to submit a final counter-offer!

He was NOT granted early permission to negotiate with other clubs as we have done with Stefano... so your example is entirely irrelevant and the cooling off period does not automatically apply in such cases!!

Well it depends how it is ruled.
You could say that the mutual option has not been taken up by the club by request from both parties.
Which we all know is the case.
Regardless of whether or not the tigers make the finals an Extra year isn’t in the club or players interest.
Any way that development means Stefano is now a free agent as it is his final contract year.
So he is in rights to negotiate with other clubs and we would by rights have final reply.

 

[BAGNF05]

Stefano ain’t leaving Sydney… Panthers or Chooks will get him…

OrDogs

 

[Curaeus]

He's worth no more than what we offered which was pretty generous. He's a good young front rower but he isn't elite. If he goes, sad but not life changing for the club. Would not get into a bidding war.

 

[BAGNF05]

Critics watching Stef run amok for a better team

 

[Needaname]

I think we’ve offered him a bit over the odds however If he can secure a larger deal good on him.
If he does decide to come back and take our offer even though it seemed way overs at the time, it will now look like a bargain.
News will be either Steffano leaves the Tigers for a huge contract or Steffano shuns over clubs and signs for less with the Tigers good PR either way.

 

[tigeress]

I think we’ve offered him a bit over the odds however If he can secure a larger deal good on him.
If he does decide to come back and take our offer even though it seemed way overs at the time, it will now look like a bargain.
News will be either Steffano leaves the Tigers for a huge contract or Steffano shuns over clubs and signs for less with the Tigers good PR either way.

I don't think Stef's in it for the money, he wants to go to a club that is winning (or has a better chance of winning) grand finals, now, rather than a "possibility" of winning GF in the future

 

[Demps]

Bulldogs added a genuine star in Critta
And a year before a top tier backrower in Kikau
A bunch of solid workers
Now they've turned it around, it appears

We're adding Luai and Turuva
Hopefully we can do the same

Still think we need to continue recruiting and sorting out the roster
Signs are there though

 

[Telltails]

They are all in it for the money. Some clubs are just better at remunerating players in other ways than just the salary cap.

 

[Tigers_Wests]

Bulldogs added a genuine star in Critta
And a year before a top tier backrower in Kikau
A bunch of solid workers
Now they've turned it around, it appears

We're adding Luai and Turuva
Hopefully we can do the same

Still think we need to continue recruiting and sorting out the roster
Signs are there though

All their players are working hard for 80 minutes at the moment. Add in the star power and it is just starting to click for the Dogs.

Interesting to see Bailey Hayward play at 13 and do a pretty good job. Halfback all through his juniors. I wouldn't be surprised to see us go down that similar path with Latu Fainu (when he can get his hammy sorted). He could handle it defensively and would make our attack go to another level with threats from our playmakers everywhere in 2025.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Bulldogs added a genuine star in Critta
And a year before a top tier backrower in Kikau
A bunch of solid workers
Now they've turned it around, it appears

We're adding Luai and Turuva
Hopefully we can do the same

Still think we need to continue recruiting and sorting out the roster
Signs are there though

Bulldogs focused on 100% effort players to compliment the big buys. On ever play they hunt in defence or run hard/straight with the ball. They still lack forward punch and a fullback but the effort players have carried them alot this season. We do need to find some complimentary pieces but need roster spots to open up to do so for next year.

 

[SwervinMervin]

I don't think Stef's in it for the money, he wants to go to a club that is winning (or has a better chance of winning) grand finals, now, rather than a "possibility" of winning GF in the future

That being the case, the journos reporting St George and Canberra as leading contenders for his signature mustn’t have got that memo. Saints have improved but mid table club at best and are losing Lomax next year. Canberra are on the slide I reckon. Neither are winning a premiership anytime soon. Tigers have more upside to them than either of those teams. If he ends up at one of those, then it’s all about the money.

 

[nrlsurvivor]

Raiders? I thought Madge didn’t rate Stef

 

[SwervinMervin]

Meanwhile Roosters offering Angus Crichton 2 years at $750k per year 😂

What’s the going rate for elite second rowers these days?

 

[Robbie's Love Child]

Critics watching Stef run amok for a better team View attachment 13238

Stef's face when his new club tell him he is a softcock and is coming off the bench if he replicates his weak Tigers runs.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

What’s the going rate for elite second rowers these days?

For Angus I would pivot in an instance from Stefano and add a top up to smash the roosters out of the water. Issue is Roosters off field pockets benefits are the best in the comp. So he could get $750k on the books but will be getting a car, apartment upgrades, financial investment management, life time dental plan etc packaged in.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Wasn't Douehi originally a Tigers junior before joining South's system?

Played in the same SG Ball team as Seyfarth, Suli and Papenhuyzen.

 

[TYGA]

I don’t think that’s the case in 3-5yrs time can see most clubs having a prop on close to that.

Right now most of the top clubs have a prop in a high $$ position cap hold wise if not already 800-900k now.

Storm have NAS, Welch is high as well.
Panthers Fisher
Sharks AFB next season
Roosters JWH, Leniu is not that high
Broncos Haas
Cowboys JT
Dragons want to
Raiders have now will in future
Bulldogs might be exception
Manly cash all in other spots
Knights Saifiti & Thompson will be high price
Souths Arrow is high + Burgess
Warriors AFB this year
Titans no cash to spread
Eels RCG and Paulo

The only props worth 900k+ are Haas, Tino, AFB, JFH, Tapine. Two of them are leaving their clubs.

There are some really solid props on much less Leniu, Leota, May, Corey Jensen, Leo Thompson, kamikamica, Naufahu Whyte, JWH, Paseka, Cotter, Neame.

 

[Lestronge]

Bulldogs added a genuine star in Critta
And a year before a top tier backrower in Kikau
A bunch of solid workers
Now they've turned it around, it appears

We're adding Luai and Turuva
Hopefully we can do the same

Still think we need to continue recruiting and sorting out the roster
Signs are there though

They don’t even have a front row . They have a bunch of back rowers with large frames lol . Shows how much Gus puts emphasis on the front row position.
I think if you have a generational talent like a Taumalolo or a Payne Hass , you give him the 1 mil . But for Stefano ? Does anyone think he’s generational ? Does anyone think he can actually be the best prop in the game ? Honestly ?
I think 800k is overs and fair money . I think 1 mil is really , really risky for a prop.
You only do that if you know you’ve got 3 or 4 juniors coming through who will play on close to minimum wage to fill the void .
I think for your top 6 or 7 middles you should be allocating around 3.2 mil - 3.5 mil , 4 mil for your spine , 2.2 mil for top 3-4 edges , and probably another 2-3mil for your top 6 backline .
Just on those numbers alone you’re either at the cap or hitting it pretty closely or over . Doesn’t leave much room for players 23-30.
So when you’re that tight , I don’t think you should be paying a guy who might make origin in the future 1 mil plus .
Thats mental. I know the dragons for example are flush with cash now lomax has left , but man , if he isn’t on the field this year for the dragons they arnt anywhere near as good .
I get it - De bellin is gone as well , but is Stefs output that much better than de bellin that you would chuck the lomax and de bellin money at him ?
Each to thier own , but Melbourne have proven year in , year out , it’s about the hunger and drive and setting standards that make a front row work . The reason Payne hass is soo special and a unicorn , is he sets standards , works hard , is a good bloke , and is that explosive highlight reel player . It’s pretty unique .
And you’re telling me Stef will be getting 100k less than Payne Hass ? Does that seem right to anyone ?

 

[Tom Shines]

What’s the going rate for elite second rowers these days?

He showed on Origin night he is one of the best players in the comp… surely he should be paid better than the 15th best prop?