Stefano Utoikamanu #241

[JC99]

The comment "normally we talk about Weststigers letting good players go" says it all really.

Years later we still don't have genuine pace in the backline expect for Brooks.

Mbye is fast but the poor bugger has had injured knees and groins the whole time he’s been here

 

[Russell]

I see stefano is on the bench for the eels this weekend . Will be a good chance to have a good look at him

He was listed on the bench last w/e too..but never got a guernsey that I cld see.
Just hope the faster game suits him,cause same size Haas is really struggling at the Broncos

Haas is struggling because he has to come up with 40-50 odd tackles per game.

 

[twentyforty]

FINALLY he is making his debut.


And you can see what will happen. He’ll play a couple games, not show much and the forum will call him a plodder.
Rip up his contract ?

Then packer will.play 1 good game and we will extend his contract another 4 years

I realise it’s easily done, but you’re forgetting about McQueen.

 

[twentyforty]

The comment "normally we talk about Weststigers letting good players go" says it all really.

Years later we still don't have genuine pace in the backline expect for Brooks.

Mbye is fast but the poor bugger has had injured knees and groins the whole time he’s been here

Did Mbye and Reynolds come as a package deal?

 

[JC99]

I’m a bit worried people will get angry at Stefano if he isn’t an instant success. There’s a lot of hype around him but he’s still a kid so he’s gonna take some time to turn into a high level player most likely

 

[avocadoontoast]

I’m a bit worried people will get angry at Stefano if he isn’t an instant success. There’s a lot of hype around him but he’s still a kid so he’s gonna take some time to turn into a high level player most likely

I don't think that would happen here on the forum. We tend to be extremely patient with very realistic expectations.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

I’m a bit worried people will get angry at Stefano if he isn’t an instant success. There’s a lot of hype around him but he’s still a kid so he’s gonna take some time to turn into a high level player most likely

Time always needs to be given to young forwards. They rarely burst into the game in their late teens and early twenties a consistent success.

 

[BirchgroveTigers]

Good to see him debut. More experience he gets this year, the better for us next year.

 

[Tigerbuck63]

The comment "normally we talk about Weststigers letting good players go" says it all really.

Years later we still don't have genuine pace in the backline expect for Brooks.

Mbye is fast but the poor bugger has had injured knees and groins the whole time he’s been here


Did Mbye and Reynolds come as a package deal?

No but we payed overs for both of them, i doubt that either will be still playing for us when there contracts expire.

 

[Tigerbuck63]

FINALLY he is making his debut.


And you can see what will happen. He’ll play a couple games, not show much and the forum will call him a plodder.
Rip up his contract ?

Then packer will.play 1 good game and we will extend his contract another 4 years


I realise it’s easily done, but you’re forgetting about McQueen.

He has another year to run on his contract and based upon game time and price it won't be extended, MADGE has a plan and knows what he wants long term.
Besides Stefano will come into the side next year and with the front rowers we will have i don't see him getting much game time.

 

[twentyforty]

I’m very excited to see our younger players get some game time, but I realise they can’t be rushed. Stephano has been mentioned as a possible blues prop. As a prop that is the apex of compliments imo.

 

[Guest]

I’m a bit worried people will get angry at Stefano if he isn’t an instant success. There’s a lot of hype around him but he’s still a kid so he’s gonna take some time to turn into a high level player most likely

He'll be fine, I'm not so much worried about what he does tonight. Give him an offseason under Madge and he'll be a very good bench prospect for us next season.

 

[the_third]

FINALLY he is making his debut.


And you can see what will happen. He’ll play a couple games, not show much and the forum will call him a plodder.
Rip up his contract ?

Then packer will.play 1 good game and we will extend his contract another 4 years


I realise it’s easily done, but you’re forgetting about McQueen.


He has another year to run on his contract and based upon game time and price it won't be extended, MADGE has a plan and knows what he wants long term.
Besides Stefano will come into the side next year and with the front rowers we will have i don't see him getting much game time.

pretty sure This is the last year if his contract

 

[JC99]

I’m a bit worried people will get angry at Stefano if he isn’t an instant success. There’s a lot of hype around him but he’s still a kid so he’s gonna take some time to turn into a high level player most likely

He'll be fine, I'm not so much worried about what he does tonight. Give him an offseason under Madge and he'll be a very good bench prospect for us next season.

Yeah he’s a very big boy wouldn’t be surprised to see him shed a bit of weight during pre season next year

 

[balmain boy]

He's likely to only get 15 mins off the bench. RCG and Paulo play decent minutes, and with Gower, Brown and Niukore all in a prop/lock rotation he's still down the pecking order. Still if he runs and tackles hard that's all you want, ignore the stats. If he doesn't make an impact in his first few games it also gives time for Madge to work on a plan for his development, size, position etc.

 

[balmain boy]

from SMH: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/very-emotional-why-eels-prop-utoikamanu-s-debut-is-a-family-affair-20200710-p55au2.html
'Very emotional': Why Eels prop Utoikamanu's debut is a family affair
Adrian Proszenko
By Adrian Proszenko
July 10, 2020 — 12.00pm

Stefano Utoikamanu will realise his NRL dream almost three years to the day that his brother’s was dashed.

Utoikamanu will make his first-grade debut for Parramatta against Newcastle on Sunday, a chance to represent his junior club at the highest level before switching to Wests Tigers next season. The occasion will be an emotional one not only for Utoikamanu but the entire family given he will realise an ambition that was once shared by older brother Filia.


The pair were both gun juniors coming through the Eels ranks until Filia broke his neck in a lower-grade fixture. Doctors said Filia was fortunate to avoid quadriplegia, but his footballing career came to a premature end.

It is now left to Stefano to live out the dream for both of them.

"Stefano was more determined, Filia pushed him even more to make it [after the incident]," said their mother, Esther.

"He knows how much it means to his brother to play NRL, they both wanted it. Stefano always played up an age, so they were together in the same team.

"They both had the same drive and it was hard for all of us because the boys trained together in the same team growing up.

"It’s very emotional. Last week was three years since that incident happened.

"It felt like it only happened yesterday."

In his first interview, with the Herald last year, Utoikamanu said Filia’s setback had made him more determined to make it to the NRL.

"He was supposed to be here with me," Utoikamanu said at the time. "It’s hard because I’d always been training with him, we’d always pushed each other. It’s been really tough without him. He gives me strength.

"He was training really hard and then he was told he wouldn’t be able to play rugby league again. It’s pretty tough.

"He broke his neck and one of the arteries got cut off, so there’s only one artery that was pumping blood to his brain, and when something happens to that it’s no good."

Utoikamanu has had to overcome his own obstacles to make the grade. No sooner than recovering from a broken leg that wiped out his entire Harold Matthews year, the Cabramatta junior suffered successive season-ending shoulder surgeries.

"It’s been a long journey," Esther said. "A lot of people don’t know, my kids have been through a lot. This is a big thing for all of us and with Filia."

Before he has even made his NRL debut, NSW coach Brad Fittler branded Utoikamanu a Blues bolter. The Tigers have been agitating the Eels to release the 21 year old early on an almost weekly basis, but coach Brad Arthur believes he has an important role to play at the club this season.

"I think it’s a really good stance from our club," Arthur said. "Even though the kid is not here next year and going onto other things - which is fine - we are not holding that against him.

"He is still a very young and well respected playing member of our squad. It’s a good thing on behalf of the club that we’re not taking that personally.

"We want to give him an opportunity. He’s a kid that has come through our system and it’s a good example for the rest of the kids coming through - if you’re good enough you’ll get a chance. If you train hard, you’re a better chance.

"We’re proud we give him the opportunity to debut at our club."

Utoikamanu, an Australian Schoolboys junior, will make his debut as a replacement for lifelong friend Oregon Kaufusi, who is sidelined with a hand injury.

"Oregon Kaufusi’s mother and I grew up together, we were best friends at school and all of our kids have grown up together," Esther said.

 

[Geo]

Esther should tell Oregon's mum to tell Oregon to join Stefano at Wests Tigers..

 

[PabloX]

Just found this on Roar. Pretty good read as to the highest-ranked juniors for 2020

https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/04/17/the-top-ten-players-in-the-nrls-next-generation/

Guess who is #1....

How good!! About time we have a coach who knows what he's doing with regards to recruitment.

I can't wait until Madge gets his hands on Packer, Reynolds and Mbyes salary. He'll be able to attract some experience representative talent, increase and extend those juniour rep players that have proven themselves in the NRL, or both. Either way, it's promising for the future.

7. Shawn Blore
Age: 19
Position: Lock
Current club: Penrith Panthers

There is every chance Blore wouldn’t be eligible to feature in this list had he not spent most of 2019 on the sidelines with an ACL injury.

That’s because he would have already made a name for himself in the middle third at Penrith. The 2018 season was a wonderful one for the young gun, leading Penrith to the SG Ball title, captaining the New South Wales under-18 Origin team and playing for the Junior Kangaroos.

The previous two captains of the under-18 New South Wales side, Cameron Murray and Payne Haas, have both gone on to do great things, debuting the year after, so Blore is following in convincing footsteps.

While last year was a setback, he is the best of a strong Penrith junior nursery – behind Spencer Leniu, who isn’t eligible for this list – and will look to put that into practice when he eventually makes his debut.

 

[851]

Late mail: Stefano Utoikamanu will debut for the Eels, and he’s one to watch out for. At 192cm and 115kg, he’s a monster of a 20-year-old. Before he even made his debut, NSW Origin coach Brad Fittler named him as a potential Blues bolter.

“He’s a bit like a [David] Klemmer, Payne [Haas], maybe not as mobile as Payne, but he’s a good player. He was the best player, as they were coming through,” Fittler said. With Ray Stone and Oregon Kaufusi set to be sidelined for some time, Utoikamanu could get his big break. He’s already been locked down by the Tigers on a three-year deal from next season.

 

[bathursttiger1]

Just found this on Roar. Pretty good read as to the highest-ranked juniors for 2020

https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/04/17/the-top-ten-players-in-the-nrls-next-generation/

Guess who is #1....

How good!! About time we have a coach who knows what he's doing with regards to recruitment.

I can't wait until Madge gets his hands on Packer, Reynolds and Mbyes salary. He'll be able to attract some experience representative talent, increase and extend those juniour rep players that have proven themselves in the NRL, or both. Either way, it's promising for the future.

7. Shawn Blore
Age: 19
Position: Lock
Current club: Penrith Panthers

There is every chance Blore wouldn’t be eligible to feature in this list had he not spent most of 2019 on the sidelines with an ACL injury.

That’s because he would have already made a name for himself in the middle third at Penrith. The 2018 season was a wonderful one for the young gun, leading Penrith to the SG Ball title, captaining the New South Wales under-18 Origin team and playing for the Junior Kangaroos.

The previous two captains of the under-18 New South Wales side, Cameron Murray and Payne Haas, have both gone on to do great things, debuting the year after, so Blore is following in convincing footsteps.

While last year was a setback, he is the best of a strong Penrith junior nursery – behind Spencer Leniu, who isn’t eligible for this list – and will look to put that into practice when he eventually makes his debut.

It's not only Madge, but Adam Hartigan is also a gun recruiter straight from the Roosters.