Stefano Utoikamanu #241

this is Aaron Woods 2.0! Only woodsy at least had runs on the board . Stefano has done nothing outside of being a darling of Brad Fittler , and get 10 minutes off the bench for NSW.
I’d much rather 2 hard nosed warriors in the Barnett mold than Stef. He has been a passenger for the last 10 games , and in at least 3 of those games his poor defence and commitment has directly lead to tries at key times in the matches .
This will be a blessing in Disguise IMHO. 800k for what will be a bench prop in 2 years.
I might be wrong , but I’m with Gordy I don’t see it .
 
hsvjones said:
IMO I don't see the dogs winning one but would make me very happy watching him lose again
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If you notice every year theres a team that comes from nowhere into the top 4/8.

Manly 2021
Cows 22
NZ 23
Dogs 24

Issue is it happens too fast and it makes them believe they are better then they are. The next year they go back to being crap. Dogs will be the same, their spine isnt good enough to sustain success.
 
Stefani would shit his Onesie if one of our friends in the media reported the Doggies and Storm are no longer interested and have withdrawn their offers. Although does anyone believe he has declined his WT option without signing elsewhere?
 
Fish88 said:
I can’t stand how Gould can have his influence in the media. He was saying Stefano should be looking after himself at contract time a few weeks back, knowing full well he was keen to sign him.
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This bloke has a huge conflict of interest and the nrl does nothing. It's a shame they let him walk over everyone
 
Tonymontana said:

NRL 2024: Star prop Stefano Utoikamanu quits Wests Tigers, Storm and Bulldogs in box seat for signature​

The Wests Tigers have fired a parting shot at Stefano Utoikamanu amid the shock development that the former NSW prop sacrificed up to $1m in a bid to win a premiership.
Dean Ritchie, Phil Rothfield and Fatima Kdouh

2 min read
July 29, 2024 - 3:52PM
News Sport Network
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NRL: Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu has decided to leave the club at the end of the 2024 NRL season.
Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu has sacrificed up to $1m to win a premiership.
The shock development comes as Wests Tigers fired a parting shot at Utoikamanu, who is wrestling between Melbourne and Canterbury, Phil Gould and Craig Bellamy along with family and football.
Utoikamanu, 24, formally quit West Tigers on Monday while considering whether to join the Bellamy’s Storm or Gould’s Bulldogs.
Well-placed sources indicate Utoikamanu is keen to be coached by Bellamy but the giant forward’s partner, Chiara Ross, has expressed a desire to remain living near family and friends in Sydney.
This masthead can reveal Wests Tigers offered Utoikamanu $800,000 a year over five seasons with Canterbury and Melbourne lodging inferior offers of around $700,000 a season.
St George Illawarra and Canberra, who initially chased Utoikamanu, were preparing to offer up to $900,000 a year.
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With future earnings, Utoikamanu could have pocketed an extra $1m but has chosen to only consider powerhouse Melbourne and rising force Canterbury.
Friends claim Utoikamanu isn’t driven by money but wants to play for a successful club. He approached the Roosters twice but couldn’t strike a deal.
It comes as Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson gave Utoikamanu a veiled whack at the forward’s failure to stay and help the club fight from the premiership cellar.
“Stefano has made a decision, one that he feels is the best for him and his family,” Richardson said. “We want people that are in for the fight.”
Utoikamanu admires the successful Melbourne system and is understood to have been impressed by Bellamy’s pitch.
Stefano Utoikamanu has the choice between the Storm and Bulldogs.

Stefano Utoikamanu has the choice between the Storm and Bulldogs.
The former NSW prop has also watched enviously as close mates and former Wests Tigers players Luke Brooks (Manly), Daine Laurie (Penrith) and Luke Garner (Penrith) have kicked-on and enjoyed their football at rival clubs.
Canterbury believe they can secure the best from Utoikamanu, who has to decide where he wants to plays football and where he and his young family want to live.
There has been some discussion at Canterbury over how much Utoikamanu is worth but the final offer will reach $700,000 a year.
Utoikamanu will have the unenviable task of having to choose between the influence and power of Bellamy and Gould.
It’s a two-team race for Utoikamanu, who initially wanted to tell Richardson of his decision to leave the club before now focusing on his future. Utoikamanu’s family has a strong support system in Sydney.
Shane Richardson made a thinly veiled statement on the situation. Picture: NRL Photos

Shane Richardson made a thinly veiled statement on the situation. Picture: NRL Photos
One key source close to the negotiations said: “It really is 50/50 between the Storm and Bulldogs.”
Utoikamanu had a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave should Wests Tigers fail to play in the finals or he did not play three State of Origin games for NSW.
The Wests Tigers statement read: “Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu has decided to leave the club at the end of the 2024 NRL season. Wests Tigers wish Stefano and his family the very best with their future endeavours.”
Utoikamanu will join Isaiah Papali’i as forwards to leave Wests Tigers after this season with doubts also lingering over whether John Bateman will return from a stint with Warrington in England.
The potential loss of three key forwards is a blow to new Wests Tigers’ 2025 playmaker, Jarome Luai. Utoikamanu will complete this season at Wests Tigers.
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Probably says a lot about him. Wants to be along for the ride at a club that already has success, rather than being a leader and building it.

See you later show pony
 
On nrl 360 they said stef will probably announce where his signed Friday cause Tigers are playing Thursday, who fkn cares, his told everyone he's leaving so he can improve his game, did Aaron Woods improve his game lol never played origin since he left Tigers lol
 
We will continue to lose our best players until we are a competitive team. It’s unfortunate but it will likely be Pole next followed by Galvin. Players won’t stick around for half a decade or more to compete.
 
What’s the chance he picks up an injury at training and will miss the next 3 weeks ( so the fans cool down a bit ) he will cop a tonne of shit Thursday at LO. When he runs out , probably not what we want as he will just dog it until,he is taken off , I don’t want to see it but it will happen
 
boonboon said:
For all the talk about Big Money, Big Name props and how important they are
Addin Fonua Blake - Warriors - 12th
Payne Hass - Broncos - 13th
Junior Paulo and RCG - Eels - 16th
Tino and Mo - Titans - 14th
Safiiti Twins - Knights - 11th
Tapine and Paps - Raiders - 9th and lucky to be that high really

While the Dogs, Storm, Sharks, Cowboys spend a lot less money in the front row and are all top 8
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An astrix on the sharks surely!
 
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