clontarfkid
Well-known member
@851 said in [Stefano Utoikamanu](/post/1178040) said:
Not as mobile as Payne...?Payne is getting caught short by the speed of todays game...maybe Stefano aint gonna be the godesnd we thought...?
Stefano Utoikamanu #241
- Thread starter Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan
- Start date
Not as mobile as Payne...?Payne is getting caught short by the speed of todays game...maybe Stefano aint gonna be the godesnd we thought...?
@willow said in [Stefano Utoikamanu](/post/1177988) said:
Ahhhhhh that wts off season....a mythical creature that turns chumps into champions. Not aimed at the player named in the thread but is our off season so intense and impressive that we turn players careers around. Seriously the amount of times I have seen people mention give him an off season under (insert coach here). We are wasting money on concord. Why build the coe afterall our off season is almost mystical in its ability.
fibrodreaming
Well-known member
@kiwitiger said in [Stefano Utoikamanu](/post/1178092) said:
I take your point, but he has done a pretty good job with Matterson and Luciano. He has also turned Harry Grant into an 80 minute player. Possibly none of this has anything to do with Madge. But, then again ...
851
Well-known member
@clontarfkid said in [Stefano Utoikamanu](/post/1178087) said:
He would probably play limited minutes until he gets with the speed of the game, but if he is in the blues sights, he must have something going for him
Jedi_Tiger
Well-known member
He will be fine we are very patient and have realistic expectations on the forum
TheDaBoss
Well-known member
Looking forward to watching him
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
@kiwitiger said in [Stefano Utoikamanu](/post/1178092) said:
Nah the best one, “if *insert coaches name here* can get him firing”. Closely followed by every single player coach x coached at previous clubs being a shoe in to come to us when they are off contract.
'Very emotional': Why Eels prop Utoikamanu's debut is a family affair
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.
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.
Elderslie_Tiger
Well-known member
10 seconds disgraceful Parra Stefano should ask for a release immediately
BalmainJnr
Well-known member
That 10 seconds given to him in his NRL debut should put to bed anyone’s fear that Stef would back flip.
851
Well-known member
@Elderslie_Tiger said in [Official \- Wests Tigers Sign Stefano Utoikamanu](/post/1180798) said:
After the way they illegally got to Moses and Matterson, we cave and let them go, and Parra screw every which way with this one, I hope the slimes crash and burn
Jedi_Tiger
Well-known member
did he really only play 10 seconds at the end what the hell geez they are grubs the eels
teddy23
Well-known member
The game all upcoming young footballers dream about and can’t wait for being your debut has just been ruined - shame on Parramatta for putting him there for the last 15 seconds making him look so silly and stupid and they won’t even release him and allow the kid to actually play some football based on pure bitterness, especially to a team who’s allowed arguably there 2 current best players to get an early release to them... joke of a club
Blaze
Well-known member
Seems like he will be in trouble now too for celebrating and hugging his family’s and friends against the Covid protocol...
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