Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[trentrunciman]

The Wests Tigers have snuck under the guard of Parramatta to steal one of the hottest young talents in the game on a three-year deal.

The Tigers have secured the services of hulking prop Stefano Utoikamanu from 2021 with one of the largest contracts for a player yet to make his NRL debut, understood to be worth around $800,000.


Parramatta were desperate to retain the 192cm, 115kg teenage sensation, who has drawn comparisons to Broncos sensation Payne Haas.

On the back of Ryan Matterson's defection to the Eels, the Tigers have managed to land the major coup and are also expected to sign Dragons forward Luciano Leilua in the coming days.

It is understood the Tigers, who are also the frontrunners for Latrell Mitchell, want the Australian Schoolboys representative to join the club immediately to play for them in the NRL in 2020.

However, the Eels earmarked Utoikamanu, who grew up playing against the likes of Haas and David Fifita, to make his debut in 2020 and now have a decision to make whether to keep him at the club or let him link with the Tigers immediately.

NRL.com understands Utoikamanu, who is on a development contract with the Eels and is no guarantee of being bumped up into the NRL squad, stands to earn almost triple the original offer the Eels put to him midway through the year.

Stefano Utoikamanu in training with NSW under 20s in 2019.
Stefano Utoikamanu in training with NSW under 20s in 2019.
©Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos
The Eels raised their offer in recent weeks – and again on Thursday night in a desperate bid to hold on to him – however Utoikamanu had already reached a decision.

The strength of the Eels pack, with Junior Paulo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard starting up front, was also a factor – especially considering there are far fewer obstacles in front of him at the Tigers.

The Eels also have no shortage of depth in the front row, with NSW under 18s Origin front-rower Dave Hollis on their roster, as well as Sam Hughes, who was picked but missed the game due to suspension.

Tigers coach Michael Maguire is desperate to add some size and starch to his pack, and the signing of Utoikamanu, who represented the NSW under 20s last season, is sure to do that whenever he arrives at Concord.


Utoikamanu scored the match-winning try for NSW in a man-of-the-match performance in the under 18s Origin game last year, backing that up with 149 metres from 11 hit-ups for the Blues in the under 20s victory this year.
https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/11/22/wests-tigers-snare-teen-tyro-utoikamanu-from-eels-grasp/

signing promising juniors and or players below 24 is definitely the way to go!! build to 2021!

 

[851]

I wonder if this signing will make Happy, happy

 

[Roar_Power]

This fella must come with massive wraps - Almost $300k per year and no NRL experience as yet. I like the look of him though!

 

[GNR4LIFE]

The last prop we pulled out of the Parra junior grades without playing a game turned out alright. There seems to be a real buzz around this club atm. It will be off the chain if we confirm Mitchell.

 

[Roar_Power]

@GNR4LIFE Yeah I must say it all seems to be heading in the right direction. The amount of lower grade quality signed in the last 6-8 weeks is pretty phenomenal. Add potentially LM, Leilua and Tetevano (if rumours are anything to be believed) and its obvious Madge is investing in youth, aggression and grunt!

 

[2005magic]

@Roar_Power - remember we did same with Suli. Just have to hope the maturity is a stage more developed with this one.

 

[cqtiger]

Amazing signing, well done.

 

[ElleryHanley]

@Roar_Power - remember we did same with Suli. Just have to hope the maturity is a stage more developed with this one.

FWIW Mark O'Mealey sung his praise as a worker, good kid in Origin camp.

None of the issues Suli had.

 

[Tcat]

If Madge is signing plenty of juniors, hopefully that means he is keen to stick around for a while.

 

[gallagher]

I'd love him to turn into a superstar. Stick it up the slimeys

 

[PabloX]

If Madge is signing plenty of juniors, hopefully that means he is keen to stick around for a while.

I'd happily extend him. He deserves to be the coach of the squad he is assembling

 

[Spacecub]

The Wests Tigers have snuck under the guard of Parramatta to steal one of the hottest young talents in the game on a three-year deal.

The Tigers have secured the services of hulking prop Stefano Utoikamanu from 2021 with one of the largest contracts for a player yet to make his NRL debut, understood to be worth around $800,000.


Parramatta were desperate to retain the 192cm, 115kg teenage sensation, who has drawn comparisons to Broncos sensation Payne Haas.

On the back of Ryan Matterson's defection to the Eels, the Tigers have managed to land the major coup and are also expected to sign Dragons forward Luciano Leilua in the coming days.

It is understood the Tigers, who are also the frontrunners for Latrell Mitchell, want the Australian Schoolboys representative to join the club immediately to play for them in the NRL in 2020.

However, the Eels earmarked Utoikamanu, who grew up playing against the likes of Haas and David Fifita, to make his debut in 2020 and now have a decision to make whether to keep him at the club or let him link with the Tigers immediately.

NRL.com understands Utoikamanu, who is on a development contract with the Eels and is no guarantee of being bumped up into the NRL squad, stands to earn almost triple the original offer the Eels put to him midway through the year.

Stefano Utoikamanu in training with NSW under 20s in 2019.
Stefano Utoikamanu in training with NSW under 20s in 2019.
©Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos
The Eels raised their offer in recent weeks – and again on Thursday night in a desperate bid to hold on to him – however Utoikamanu had already reached a decision.

The strength of the Eels pack, with Junior Paulo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard starting up front, was also a factor – especially considering there are far fewer obstacles in front of him at the Tigers.

The Eels also have no shortage of depth in the front row, with NSW under 18s Origin front-rower Dave Hollis on their roster, as well as Sam Hughes, who was picked but missed the game due to suspension.

Tigers coach Michael Maguire is desperate to add some size and starch to his pack, and the signing of Utoikamanu, who represented the NSW under 20s last season, is sure to do that whenever he arrives at Concord.


Utoikamanu scored the match-winning try for NSW in a man-of-the-match performance in the under 18s Origin game last year, backing that up with 149 metres from 11 hit-ups for the Blues in the under 20s victory this year.
https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/11/22/wests-tigers-snare-teen-tyro-utoikamanu-from-eels-grasp/

That's not 800k a year?

 

[WT2K]

The Wests Tigers have snuck under the guard of Parramatta to steal one of the hottest young talents in the game on a three-year deal.

The Tigers have secured the services of hulking prop Stefano Utoikamanu from 2021 with one of the largest contracts for a player yet to make his NRL debut, understood to be worth around $800,000.


Parramatta were desperate to retain the 192cm, 115kg teenage sensation, who has drawn comparisons to Broncos sensation Payne Haas.

On the back of Ryan Matterson's defection to the Eels, the Tigers have managed to land the major coup and are also expected to sign Dragons forward Luciano Leilua in the coming days.

It is understood the Tigers, who are also the frontrunners for Latrell Mitchell, want the Australian Schoolboys representative to join the club immediately to play for them in the NRL in 2020.

However, the Eels earmarked Utoikamanu, who grew up playing against the likes of Haas and David Fifita, to make his debut in 2020 and now have a decision to make whether to keep him at the club or let him link with the Tigers immediately.

NRL.com understands Utoikamanu, who is on a development contract with the Eels and is no guarantee of being bumped up into the NRL squad, stands to earn almost triple the original offer the Eels put to him midway through the year.

Stefano Utoikamanu in training with NSW under 20s in 2019.
Stefano Utoikamanu in training with NSW under 20s in 2019.
©Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos
The Eels raised their offer in recent weeks – and again on Thursday night in a desperate bid to hold on to him – however Utoikamanu had already reached a decision.

The strength of the Eels pack, with Junior Paulo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard starting up front, was also a factor – especially considering there are far fewer obstacles in front of him at the Tigers.

The Eels also have no shortage of depth in the front row, with NSW under 18s Origin front-rower Dave Hollis on their roster, as well as Sam Hughes, who was picked but missed the game due to suspension.

Tigers coach Michael Maguire is desperate to add some size and starch to his pack, and the signing of Utoikamanu, who represented the NSW under 20s last season, is sure to do that whenever he arrives at Concord.


Utoikamanu scored the match-winning try for NSW in a man-of-the-match performance in the under 18s Origin game last year, backing that up with 149 metres from 11 hit-ups for the Blues in the under 20s victory this year.
https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/11/22/wests-tigers-snare-teen-tyro-utoikamanu-from-eels-grasp/

That's not 800k a year?

Assuming it's for the length of the contract

 

[balmain boy]

The Wests Tigers have snuck under the guard of Parramatta to steal one of the hottest young talents in the game on a three-year deal.

The Tigers have secured the services of hulking prop Stefano Utoikamanu from 2021 with one of the largest contracts for a player yet to make his NRL debut, understood to be worth around $800,000.


Parramatta were desperate to retain the 192cm, 115kg teenage sensation, who has drawn comparisons to Broncos sensation Payne Haas.

On the back of Ryan Matterson's defection to the Eels, the Tigers have managed to land the major coup and are also expected to sign Dragons forward Luciano Leilua in the coming days.

It is understood the Tigers, who are also the frontrunners for Latrell Mitchell, want the Australian Schoolboys representative to join the club immediately to play for them in the NRL in 2020.

However, the Eels earmarked Utoikamanu, who grew up playing against the likes of Haas and David Fifita, to make his debut in 2020 and now have a decision to make whether to keep him at the club or let him link with the Tigers immediately.

NRL.com understands Utoikamanu, who is on a development contract with the Eels and is no guarantee of being bumped up into the NRL squad, stands to earn almost triple the original offer the Eels put to him midway through the year.

Stefano Utoikamanu in training with NSW under 20s in 2019.
Stefano Utoikamanu in training with NSW under 20s in 2019.
©Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos
The Eels raised their offer in recent weeks – and again on Thursday night in a desperate bid to hold on to him – however Utoikamanu had already reached a decision.

The strength of the Eels pack, with Junior Paulo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard starting up front, was also a factor – especially considering there are far fewer obstacles in front of him at the Tigers.

The Eels also have no shortage of depth in the front row, with NSW under 18s Origin front-rower Dave Hollis on their roster, as well as Sam Hughes, who was picked but missed the game due to suspension.

Tigers coach Michael Maguire is desperate to add some size and starch to his pack, and the signing of Utoikamanu, who represented the NSW under 20s last season, is sure to do that whenever he arrives at Concord.


Utoikamanu scored the match-winning try for NSW in a man-of-the-match performance in the under 18s Origin game last year, backing that up with 149 metres from 11 hit-ups for the Blues in the under 20s victory this year.
https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/11/22/wests-tigers-snare-teen-tyro-utoikamanu-from-eels-grasp/

That's not 800k a year?

No, it's 800k over 3 years, and who knows - probably just under 1 million for 4 years if he join us now.

Exactly the sort of player we need to sign. We're not going to sign Fifita or Pangai Jnr, but we can sign the next Fifita and nurture them to greatness

 

[Nelson]

would it be possible for the tigers to chase Val Holmes?

Although i reckon LM is better.

could we chase both?

I don't really rate Holmes. He's a decent winger but that's pretty much it. $1m for him is obscene.

He went ballistic at the back end of 2018 at fullback. In 12 games he scored 13 tries, had 9 try assists and 52 tackle breaks. He was one of the form players in the game for that (admittedly brief) period. Query whether he'll be able to go close to replicating that after his time out of the game and different training regime...

 

[Elderslie_Tiger]

@Roar_Power
MADGE HAS A PLAN

 

[Spacecub]

Yes you would think that was the case

 

[beachtiger]

Wow kid has some size, been around this club too long to start getting overly excited but geez I’m starting to get a really good feeling about our future.

 

[jrtiger]

is anyone able to pull together a list of all the kids we've signed in the last 6 months? would be a pretty extensive list, our Flegg side will certainly have some talent going forward.

 

[swag_tiger]

It's almost 4:00pm, if they are going with the announcement a day plan there will be a signing or re-signing soon.