Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

This wanker has become very vocal since moving to Melbourne - good riddance to a shit player who believes his own hype!

He's as dumb as dogshit too!


An angry Stefano Utoikamanu could not believe Francis Molo avoided scrutiny for a high shot that ended his Tongan debut in 90 seconds, saying: “I don’t know what more evidence you need to sin bin someone.”

Utoikamanu had to fly back to Sydney with the Samoan players on Monday rather than join the Tongans in New Zealand, following Sunday’s 34-6 loss at a packed Suncorp Stadium.

The front-rower confirmed he would miss Sunday’s must-win clash against New Zealand as part of the sport’s concussion protocols. He’s also stunned Molo was only penalised, and not sent to the sin bin, over the incident.

The match review committee charged Molo with a grade-two careless high tackle, but the sanction for that in an international match is 13 per cent of his $3000 match payment, or $390.

“It’s shit I got ruled out so fast, and I also felt like he [Molo] should have been sin-binned for that – I’m done for the game, and he just gets put on report,” Utoikamanu told this masthead.

“His shoulder went straight to my face. I don’t know what more evidence you need to sin bin someone.

“I get it we lost, but that [moment] affects our game. We weren’t even two minutes into the game.

“I knew as soon as he hit me and I went down, I wasn’t coming back.


“I’m all right now. But I’m out for 11 days. He came up to me afterwards, but I’m disappointed. It’s not the way I wanted to start my Tongan journey.”

Utoikamanu switched his allegiance from Samoa to Tonga this year to honour his father’s heritage.

He had been on a high just a few weeks ago after his powerhouse performance in Melbourne’s preliminary final win against Cronulla prompted Storm coach Craig Bellamy to label him the form prop in the game.

The 25-year-old then caused a stir in grand final week when he admitted he did not like a few of the Broncos players, and thought they were “stuck up”. Utoikamanu was ridiculed for those comments by some of Brisbane’s stars as they celebrated the win.

Related Article​

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/th...nd-broke-down-to-bennett-20251022-p5n4ho.html

“As I said before the grand final, this time last year I was doing the total opposite to what I’m doing now. It’s been a massive year, I can’t wait for next year, and to see what next year holds for me,” Utoikamanu said.

“That whole thing during grand final week, it dragged on.

“I don’t really know most of those [Brisbane] boys. Like any footy player, you need motivation before you go on the field, and that was mine.

“I said I don’t like them, so I play better and do my job better. It’s shit we lost, but I can’t do anything about it. I got to play in a grand final. And I’m stoked for those boys, they got the win.”

Tongan coach Kristian Woolf said Utoikamanu’s concussion did not cost them the game, but the rules needed to be looked at. The bunker still had an opportunity to intervene if it felt the incident was a reportable offence.

“You don’t just lose a player, you lose an interchange, you potentially lose a player for two weeks, and there’s not much repercussion the other way; it needs to be looked at,” said Woolf, who is hoping Jason Taumalolo (knee) can come straight into the side to replace Utoikamanu.

Earlier this year, Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett said he was a fan of binning players once a rival had failed an HIA, and the NRL trialled the concept during the trials.

“I don’t think they should bring this proposal in next season – they should bring it in now,” Bennett said midway through the year.
 
He's aggressive, got good acceleration, very competitive, and front on defence is solid. Very strong for his size too. Could very easily become the next Connor Watson.
Just don't expect him to catch a bomb or be a playmaker
Be interesting to see how he goes if he gets an opportunity in the trials, we need our juniors to succeed and stay.
 
Interesting that Jack Attard played hooker for St Doms in '23 and can also play 5/8. Could become that electric bench utility down the track that we hope/d Mason developed into.
That's actually concerning for me. We want a Livewire fullback with electric speed and evasiveness. If he's playing in the forwards at youth level that suggests he's more solid than X factor. Can't say I've seen more than 30 seconds of highlights from him though, most being a support runner.
 
This wanker has become very vocal since moving to Melbourne - good riddance to a shit player who believes his own hype!

He's as dumb as dogshit too!


An angry Stefano Utoikamanu could not believe Francis Molo avoided scrutiny for a high shot that ended his Tongan debut in 90 seconds, saying: “I don’t know what more evidence you need to sin bin someone.”

Utoikamanu had to fly back to Sydney with the Samoan players on Monday rather than join the Tongans in New Zealand, following Sunday’s 34-6 loss at a packed Suncorp Stadium.

The front-rower confirmed he would miss Sunday’s must-win clash against New Zealand as part of the sport’s concussion protocols. He’s also stunned Molo was only penalised, and not sent to the sin bin, over the incident.

The match review committee charged Molo with a grade-two careless high tackle, but the sanction for that in an international match is 13 per cent of his $3000 match payment, or $390.

“It’s shit I got ruled out so fast, and I also felt like he [Molo] should have been sin-binned for that – I’m done for the game, and he just gets put on report,” Utoikamanu told this masthead.

“His shoulder went straight to my face. I don’t know what more evidence you need to sin bin someone.

“I get it we lost, but that [moment] affects our game. We weren’t even two minutes into the game.

“I knew as soon as he hit me and I went down, I wasn’t coming back.


“I’m all right now. But I’m out for 11 days. He came up to me afterwards, but I’m disappointed. It’s not the way I wanted to start my Tongan journey.”

Utoikamanu switched his allegiance from Samoa to Tonga this year to honour his father’s heritage.

He had been on a high just a few weeks ago after his powerhouse performance in Melbourne’s preliminary final win against Cronulla prompted Storm coach Craig Bellamy to label him the form prop in the game.

The 25-year-old then caused a stir in grand final week when he admitted he did not like a few of the Broncos players, and thought they were “stuck up”. Utoikamanu was ridiculed for those comments by some of Brisbane’s stars as they celebrated the win.

Related Article​

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/th...nd-broke-down-to-bennett-20251022-p5n4ho.html

“As I said before the grand final, this time last year I was doing the total opposite to what I’m doing now. It’s been a massive year, I can’t wait for next year, and to see what next year holds for me,” Utoikamanu said.

“That whole thing during grand final week, it dragged on.

“I don’t really know most of those [Brisbane] boys. Like any footy player, you need motivation before you go on the field, and that was mine.

“I said I don’t like them, so I play better and do my job better. It’s shit we lost, but I can’t do anything about it. I got to play in a grand final. And I’m stoked for those boys, they got the win.”

Tongan coach Kristian Woolf said Utoikamanu’s concussion did not cost them the game, but the rules needed to be looked at. The bunker still had an opportunity to intervene if it felt the incident was a reportable offence.

“You don’t just lose a player, you lose an interchange, you potentially lose a player for two weeks, and there’s not much repercussion the other way; it needs to be looked at,” said Woolf, who is hoping Jason Taumalolo (knee) can come straight into the side to replace Utoikamanu.

Earlier this year, Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett said he was a fan of binning players once a rival had failed an HIA, and the NRL trialled the concept during the trials.

“I don’t think they should bring this proposal in next season – they should bring it in now,” Bennett said midway through the year.
I think it’s more the journos smell blood in the water , and think they can get a quote out of him . Also there is a definite “we don’t talk to media “ policy at this club, which isn’t a gag order per se, but it isn’t not one .
I personally think the talk around him and the Aus team Is a joke , and people who suck on the tit of Frank Ponisi and Craig Bellamy promoting the opposite above a litany of more deserving middles should be ashamed of themselves . His own front row partner was better than him all year .
 
It would be uncommon for a player to sign such a long contract on a pretty average wage for a starting player wouldnt it?... especially a Moses client
Re Bula...

I had a crazy thought. We resigned AD on 350k, which is unders.
If we resign Bula on say 750k or less, because stuff fell through, that would ruin the reputation of:

Issac Moses.


I almost don't mind not coming 8 if it gets Issac out of the game.
 
Hi All,
Back from travelling and back to the forum. I am pretty much up to date on the happenings on the recruitment front while I was away. I have read through several pages here and see that Bula/Luai is the 1 Nov focus. I'm not concerned; we have them stitched up in the short term and Benji/Richo will be well into negotiations by now. It will all come out in the wash, my gut feel is that Luia will remain and Bula's future will be dependent upon how much Moses tries to squeeze us for. Richo will have a number and if Moses wants more and wants to explore the market we still have the option to come back. I have no inside info to support my gut feel, but for me neither is a concern - we have time.

I feel that our short term need is an experienced 13 to flesh out the squad for 26. I have not heard if the decision on AD for 26 has been made or not. But we can't expect AD to start as at 7 while Latu recovers from surgery and then transition to 13. If the plan is for him to be our 13 next season he needs to work on his body over the off season to cope with the different postional demands.

To me AD to 13 appears to be the direction we are heading, given the lack of external investment. This is a risk that requires insurance coverage.

My expectation is that Madden will fill the 7 jumper until Latu is fully fit; but that again is based on what action we haven't seen in the recruiting market in relation to a 13. I could be way off the mark and AD is in the mix for 7 - I certainly hope not!

Either way, what I think doesn't matter. Benji and Richo have a plan that is in execution - it is not going to change much unless something shakes loose once the Fafita signing is anounced. If that's the case I will be pleasantly surprised.

Currently I am more interesed in what moves the club makes for the medium term come 1 Nov.
 
That's actually concerning for me. We want a Livewire fullback with electric speed and evasiveness. If he's playing in the forwards at youth level that suggests he's more solid than X factor. Can't say I've seen more than 30 seconds of highlights from him though, most being a support runner.
💯
David Bryenton was a big miss.
 

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