Stefano Utoikamanu #241

[SeanT]

That halfback of Raiders hasn't impressed me.

I don't think Raiders or Roosters will be in the big dance honestly.

 

[Rugba]

Aren't Raiders playing this year?

Until I heard Bateman was having a shoulder reco today ...he is a big loss

How long they saying he out ?

 

[Cairnstigers]

The Slims unfortunately will have a better pack than last year ... with Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Ryan "the grub" Matteson, Jnr Paulo, Brown, Terepo and Niukore and maybe Stefano Utoikamanu all playing in their pack they will be a lot harder than most teams think .. unfortunately ..

And then you have Alvaro , Sean Lane , Gower , Evans and Oregon Kaufusi as back up

Eels have a great squad. They'll go close this year (unfortunately).

Backs they brought in Waqa Blake as well, they don't have a real standout in the spine but they have solidity with Mahoney , Moses , Gutherson and Brown

But even then they have good back ups with Salmon ,Will Smith and Brock Lamb

Throw in Sivo , Waqa Blake , Jennings and Ferguson with back ups with George Jennings and Takairangi

That's a damn good squad , as I said I hope they screw the pooch in 2020 but they have to be in anyone's Top 3

12 to 16th

Downhill skiers and they flop when the torch is applied...too many entitled ego's..

I'll bet you $1000 they finish above 12th.

I'll be the Bookie
I take a 5% cut up front on all bets

 

[diedpretty]

That’s the difference between the strong clubs like the Roosters/Storm vs clubs like Parramatta.
Do you honestly think Bellamy or Trent Robinson would Promote a player who is leaving and place them into their top 30 and develop him further for the opposition ??
Not on your life ! Robinson showed a champion like Latrell Mitchell the door without a seconds hesitation so he can get the next best thing (Billy Smith) a shot in the top 30.
Also, how motivated will Stefano be, when his playing for peanuts , knowing that a better contract awaits him elsewhere ?.
I can’t believe Parramatta are further developing this kid for us!!! ?????

Yep they’re putting the hunger in him. The coming of age for a prop.

I think they are still backing themselves to change his mind ....and you never know he might be the difference between a premiership or no premiership

or the differnce between that 1 game clutch from him

that saves eels from the wooden spoon this year

With The Roosters with their issues and Storm losing a few in their back 5 I honestly think Parra is favourites at the moment ...I hate them but they are the team to beat

I hate to say and i will need to wash my mouth out but i think Manly are a huge chance.

 

[jirskyr]

That’s the difference between the strong clubs like the Roosters/Storm vs clubs like Parramatta.
Do you honestly think Bellamy or Trent Robinson would Promote a player who is leaving and place them into their top 30 and develop him further for the opposition ??
Not on your life ! Robinson showed a champion like Latrell Mitchell the door without a seconds hesitation so he can get the next best thing (Billy Smith) a shot in the top 30.
Also, how motivated will Stefano be, when his playing for peanuts , knowing that a better contract awaits him elsewhere ?.
I can’t believe Parramatta are further developing this kid for us!!! ?????

Yep they’re putting the hunger in him. The coming of age for a prop.

I think they are still backing themselves to change his mind ....and you never know he might be the difference between a premiership or no premiership

or the differnce between that 1 game clutch from him

that saves eels from the wooden spoon this year

With The Roosters with their issues and Storm losing a few in their back 5 I honestly think Parra is favourites at the moment ...I hate them but they are the team to beat

Hahahah no

Well ....your thoughts .....

My thoughts are that Parra fold like origami whenever another team applies the blowtorch, and that's with the same roster/spine they've got.

They lack the starch, though they are good frontrunners, they lose too many games to opposition that gets the jump on them, and I don't think Parra can stick with the best sides at finals time. Since and including 2010 Parra have made the finals just twice and won 1 from 4 finals matches. This includes an absolute shellacking of the Broncos, which was an overall odd result, followed up by a 32-0 flogging in Melbourne.

In that same 10-year period they achieved 3 wooden spoons, including the 2018 one that separated two Top 8 finishes. For a team to yo-yo so much, even when in finals contention, speaks to me of a lack of starch when the pressure is on.

Then actually looking at the roster - Slimy Fart, Dylan Brown, Gutho, Mahoney is an inexperienced spine, with Moses clocking in at the most games (131), Gutho sub-100 and Brown/Mahoney 50 games combined. They have not dramatically changed their roster for 2020 much apart from RCG, who is down on form, and Waqa Blake getting his first full year, though he was a bit down last year as well.

Maika Sivo probably their only legitimate solo game-breaker, but I don't back any of the spine players to consistently figure in tough games.

Top 8 potentially yes, premiers no.

 

[MtWarrigalTiger]

Anyone think we might get Stef after round 5?

 

[Ponyo]

Judging by the press over the last few
days they'll be a under a lot of pressure.

 

[tiger05premier]

Anyone think we might get Stef after round 5?

No

Why after round 5?

 

[MtWarrigalTiger]

After we play Eels...Easter Monday

 

[Guest]

Back on topic please

 

[Spartan117]

Would rather Manly 100 times over Parra.

Hate em both.

Add muts, rosters, soufs, clearys, all.Qld teams

Actually i hate all non Tigers

 

[Demps]

Would rather Manly 100 times over Parra.

Hate em both.

Add muts, rosters, soufs, clearys, all.Qld teams

Actually i hate all non Tigers

Word.

 

[Tim Sheens]

They have not dramatically changed their roster for 2020 much apart from RCG, who is down on form, and Waqa Blake getting his first full year, though he was a bit down last year as well.

I would say that Matterson fills a hole quite well for them, whether keeping Stefano out of a spot in the middle, or taking up an edge.

 

[Geo]

That’s the difference between the strong clubs like the Roosters/Storm vs clubs like Parramatta.
Do you honestly think Bellamy or Trent Robinson would Promote a player who is leaving and place them into their top 30 and develop him further for the opposition ??
Not on your life ! Robinson showed a champion like Latrell Mitchell the door without a seconds hesitation so he can get the next best thing (Billy Smith) a shot in the top 30.
Also, how motivated will Stefano be, when his playing for peanuts , knowing that a better contract awaits him elsewhere ?.
I can’t believe Parramatta are further developing this kid for us!!! ?????

Yep they’re putting the hunger in him. The coming of age for a prop.

I think they are still backing themselves to change his mind ....and you never know he might be the difference between a premiership or no premiership

or the differnce between that 1 game clutch from him

that saves eels from the wooden spoon this year

With The Roosters with their issues and Storm losing a few in their back 5 I honestly think Parra is favourites at the moment ...I hate them but they are the team to beat

Hahahah no

Well ....your thoughts .....

My thoughts are that Parra fold like origami whenever another team applies the blowtorch, and that's with the same roster/spine they've got.

They lack the starch, though they are good frontrunners, they lose too many games to opposition that gets the jump on them, and I don't think Parra can stick with the best sides at finals time. Since and including 2010 Parra have made the finals just twice and won 1 from 4 finals matches. This includes an absolute shellacking of the Broncos, which was an overall odd result, followed up by a 32-0 flogging in Melbourne.

In that same 10-year period they achieved 3 wooden spoons, including the 2018 one that separated two Top 8 finishes. For a team to yo-yo so much, even when in finals contention, speaks to me of a lack of starch when the pressure is on.

Then actually looking at the roster - Slimy Fart, Dylan Brown, Gutho, Mahoney is an inexperienced spine, with Moses clocking in at the most games (131), Gutho sub-100 and Brown/Mahoney 50 games combined. They have not dramatically changed their roster for 2020 much apart from RCG, who is down on form, and Waqa Blake getting his first full year, though he was a bit down last year as well.

Maika Sivo probably their only legitimate solo game-breaker, but I don't back any of the spine players to consistently figure in tough games.

Top 8 potentially yes, premiers no.

owned happy..

but I said it in 1 sentence..

The Slims unfortunately will have a better pack than last year ... with Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Ryan "the grub" Matteson, Jnr Paulo, Brown, Terepo and Niukore and maybe Stefano Utoikamanu all playing in their pack they will be a lot harder than most teams think .. unfortunately ..

And then you have Alvaro , Sean Lane , Gower , Evans and Oregon Kaufusi as back up

Eels have a great squad. They'll go close this year (unfortunately).

Backs they brought in Waqa Blake as well, they don't have a real standout in the spine but they have solidity with Mahoney , Moses , Gutherson and Brown

But even then they have good back ups with Salmon ,Will Smith and Brock Lamb

Throw in Sivo , Waqa Blake , Jennings and Ferguson with back ups with George Jennings and Takairangi

That's a damn good squad , as I said I hope they screw the pooch in 2020 but they have to be in anyone's Top 3

12 to 16th

Downhill skiers and they flop when the torch is applied...too many entitled ego's..

 

[Ponyo]

Stefano Utoikamanu is doing this as much for his brother as for himself.

The drive that has made him a potential Blues Origin bolter and the subject of a tug-of-war between two rival NRL clubs – before he has even made a single first-grade appearance – comes from a source very close to home.

The teenage sensation’s dream is to make it in the NRL, one that he will likely fulfil this season at Parramatta, rather than his future employers at Wests Tigers. It was an ambition once shared by his older brother Filia, who was also a gun junior coming through the Eels ranks.

However, Filia’s rugby league career came to a shattering halt in 2017 when he broke his neck in a lower-grade fixture. It was a huge setback for the family and ended any hopes of the siblings running onto the field together at the highest level.

Utoikamanu is using it as motivation to fulfil his undoubted potential and become one of the game’s most promising prospects.

“Hopefully I can get a debut for him, it’s really important for me,” Utoikamanu told the Herald last year in his first interview.

“He was supposed to be here with me. 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.

“Mentally, it was a big shock because he took rugby league for granted as well. It’s tough when somebody tells you you can’t do something you love.

“It’s a big motivation for me. I know he wanted to be here. It’s good for me, to be playing for him. That’s very big for me.”

To date, Utoikamanu is that guy many league fans have heard of but not seen play. Good judges have likened him to Brisbane powerhouse Payne Haas and the hype went to another level on Tuesday when NSW coach Brad Fittler earmarked him as one of eight Eels on his radar for the upcoming Origin series.

Parramatta had planned for Utoikamanu to be a mainstay of their forward pack, but the Tigers snuck under their guard with a three-year, $800,000 deal beginning from next season. The joint-venture outfit figured his signature would pressure the Eels into an early release, but they responded by upgrading his contract to top-30 status, paving the way for an NRL debut this year.

Up until now, few have been privy to Utoikamanu’s backstory. But now that the junior Blues star is set to be thrust into the limelight, it’s an opportune time to reveal other setbacks he has overcome on his journey. Like the two shoulder operations that wrote off two entire seasons.

“I did my left shoulder twice, in 2016 and ‘17,” he said. “It was two seasons on the sidelines. [Retirement] thoughts started popping into my head when I did it the second time.

" The first time I was rehabbing really well and in my very first game back, it popped out straight away. I got another op, started working really hard, came back and was just trying to think positive, work hard and see where I get to.”

Those challenges appear to have steeled Utoikamanu. The Westfield Sports High School product will run out for the Eels this year before switching to the Tigers, although he supported neither of those teams while growing up.

“When I was younger I was on the bandwagon, I used to go for the Storm,” - Via SMH

 

[jirskyr]

would say that Matterson fills a hole quite well for them

I literally forgot he was going there, like it was blocked out of my mind.

 

[jirskyr]

the hype went to another level on Tuesday when NSW coach Brad Fittler earmarked him as one of eight Eels on his radar for the upcoming Origin series

That's just as bad a mock as calling Brooks "the next Joey Johns".

 

[twentyforty]

“Stefano Utoikamanu is doing this as much for his brother as for himself.”

No mention of Eels treatment of Stef’s brother? Does anyone know what that’s all about?

 

[happy_tiger]

That’s the difference between the strong clubs like the Roosters/Storm vs clubs like Parramatta.
Do you honestly think Bellamy or Trent Robinson would Promote a player who is leaving and place them into their top 30 and develop him further for the opposition ??
Not on your life ! Robinson showed a champion like Latrell Mitchell the door without a seconds hesitation so he can get the next best thing (Billy Smith) a shot in the top 30.
Also, how motivated will Stefano be, when his playing for peanuts , knowing that a better contract awaits him elsewhere ?.
I can’t believe Parramatta are further developing this kid for us!!! ?????

Yep they’re putting the hunger in him. The coming of age for a prop.

I think they are still backing themselves to change his mind ....and you never know he might be the difference between a premiership or no premiership

or the differnce between that 1 game clutch from him

that saves eels from the wooden spoon this year

With The Roosters with their issues and Storm losing a few in their back 5 I honestly think Parra is favourites at the moment ...I hate them but they are the team to beat

Hahahah no

Well ....your thoughts .....

My thoughts are that Parra fold like origami whenever another team applies the blowtorch, and that's with the same roster/spine they've got.

They lack the starch, though they are good frontrunners, they lose too many games to opposition that gets the jump on them, and I don't think Parra can stick with the best sides at finals time. Since and including 2010 Parra have made the finals just twice and won 1 from 4 finals matches. This includes an absolute shellacking of the Broncos, which was an overall odd result, followed up by a 32-0 flogging in Melbourne.

In that same 10-year period they achieved 3 wooden spoons, including the 2018 one that separated two Top 8 finishes. For a team to yo-yo so much, even when in finals contention, speaks to me of a lack of starch when the pressure is on.

Then actually looking at the roster - Slimy Fart, Dylan Brown, Gutho, Mahoney is an inexperienced spine, with Moses clocking in at the most games (131), Gutho sub-100 and Brown/Mahoney 50 games combined. They have not dramatically changed their roster for 2020 much apart from RCG, who is down on form, and Waqa Blake getting his first full year, though he was a bit down last year as well.

Maika Sivo probably their only legitimate solo game-breaker, but I don't back any of the spine players to consistently figure in tough games.

Top 8 potentially yes, premiers no.


owned happy..

but I said it in 1 sentence..

The Slims unfortunately will have a better pack than last year ... with Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Ryan "the grub" Matteson, Jnr Paulo, Brown, Terepo and Niukore and maybe Stefano Utoikamanu all playing in their pack they will be a lot harder than most teams think .. unfortunately ..

And then you have Alvaro , Sean Lane , Gower , Evans and Oregon Kaufusi as back up

Eels have a great squad. They'll go close this year (unfortunately).

Backs they brought in Waqa Blake as well, they don't have a real standout in the spine but they have solidity with Mahoney , Moses , Gutherson and Brown

But even then they have good back ups with Salmon ,Will Smith and Brock Lamb

Throw in Sivo , Waqa Blake , Jennings and Ferguson with back ups with George Jennings and Takairangi

That's a damn good squad , as I said I hope they screw the pooch in 2020 but they have to be in anyone's Top 3

12 to 16th

Downhill skiers and they flop when the torch is applied...too many entitled ego's..

I've made your bet for you $1000 on Eels finishing 12-16

 

[Tigerboy]

Somebody needs to go all Amateur news hour and disgrace the eels with personal knowledge of the problems they’re having in back office. I’m in a binding agreement not to say anything!