Stefano Utoikamanu #241

Luke Brooks #27 Fan said:
Stefano Utoikamanu
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The 19-year-old has signed a three-year contract that will see him join Wests Tigers from the start of the 2021 season until at least the end of the 2023 season.

Born in Otahuhu, New Zealand, the towering Utoikamanu played his junior football with the Cabramatta Two Blues before progressing through the grades at Parramatta — starring at a junior representative level with New South Wales and Australian Schoolboys.

The 191cm and 115-kg forward will add another dimension to a dynamic Wests Tigers forward pack in 2021 and displays a quality move in the player market by the club.

Head Coach Michael Maguire said he was delighted to have Stefano join the club in 2021.

“Stefano is clearly one of the best young talents in the game and, as such, we’re all extremely excited to have him join Wests Tigers going forward,” Maguire said.

“His commitment to the future of this club is a strong show of intent in what we’re building here, and I have no doubt that he will continue his development in the next 12 months to be an even better player than what he is now.

“We’ve got a number of quality young props here at Wests Tigers with the likes of Alex Twal, Thomas Mikaele and Oliver Clark, and Stefano is certainly another young talent that I have no doubt will play a big role in the future of this great club.”

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.

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.
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Another step toward the Tigers captaincy.
 
Don't think he's been playing that well to be considered for Origin... Don't think he's ready myself but congrats to him if he is in fact in the team.
Word is Hynes has been dropped.... Not surprised at this... Fittler panicking. Form is temporary... Class is permanent
 
Happy to hear Stef is in the picture.
Can't understand why they wouldn't go with Hynes again. He was playing way out of position when he came on in Game One and is one of the most consistently good halves in the game. More upside with him than the Tanker.
 
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Hopefully that means Pole starts as a front rower this week with Matamua finally given a crack at 13.
You'd have to say Stef is a strange inclusion. I've been impressed with him this year but he regressed a bit in the last couple of games since he returned from Origin camp.
 
Has found his feet and his belief at the back end of 2021, came into 2022 having to carry the pack at 21 and then struggled and played through multiple injuries.

Has really taken big steps this year with the likes of Api, Klem around.
 
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