Stefano Utoikamanu #241

[Tiger Stripes]

Champions shine through adversity. Lift your team and take them with you. The guy could have been a real leader and who knows where he may have finished in a decade if the tigers had become successful. Instead, we got arm grabing 50mtrs a game Stef. He will slot right into the Melbourne system as he will work just as hard doing sweet FA and yet will appear a better player as others are doing the heavy lifting. The bloke threw away an endearing legacy to chase an easy job and pay cheque elsewhere. The divas of today.

IMO, Stef will not be good enough to dislodge the incumbents at storm.
Bellyache may give him a cameo appearance to test him out, but I don't see him being mentally capable to sustain the reliable effort that Bellyache would require.
Not in his natural character to be consistently; mentally tough.
Most likely will be playing in the Bears side. Just my gaze into the future.

 

[colinbh]

Stef was poor this year, I’m not disputing that.

The issue I have is that he’ll go to Melbourne and be a good player in the league.

We need to create a better team environment to stop that happening.

The criticism of Api has me more triggered than that of Stef.

He won't be a good player for any team. No heart or football nous.

 

[Red88_Tiger]

I don’t get why players that are preparing to leave the tigers go so poorly even when they are trying to get a better contract.
You take horses effort atm for example really putting himself in the front window or even Zac lomax

 

[TurnStyle]

I don’t get why players that are preparing to leave the tigers go so poorly even when they are trying to get a better contract.
You take horses effort atm for example really putting himself in the front window or even Zac lomax

I think in most cases they already have their next club settled - it just can't be publicised.

I don't think Lomax had his Eels contract until after it was known he was unhappy on the wing, so he was busting a gut to show another club. He went well and just kept playing well even after the Eels signed him. Shows character....

Either way, I think a lot of how someone deals with that situation comes down to the individual - some fight, some surrender.

 

[BAGNF05]

He won't be a good player for any team. No heart or football nous.

We shall see.
Old Bellyache has a bit of form that I’d remind you of.

 

[Telltails]

Fine and dandy. My pet hate is bagging of our good players and overlooking what they’re up against in a poor roster situation. It’s just ignorance.

And then followed by how much they have improved in better stronger outfits - go figure.

 

[BAGNF05]

I don’t get why players that are preparing to leave the tigers go so poorly even when they are trying to get a better contract.
You take horses effort atm for example really putting himself in the front window or even Zac lomax

The Stef has a clause stories started before rd 1. Unfortunately I’d say Melbourne expressed their interest and 2024 became an exit operation for Stef & his management. Fix the club, stop it happening.

 

[colinbh]

We shall see.
Old Bellyache has a bit of form that I’d remind you of.

You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear

 

[GCfan]

He could have busted his arse on Friday to show the club and it’s supporters that he appreciates all that’s been done for him over the years.
One big effort where he left it all on the field and he could hold his head up and say “sorry guys, I tried my best to help miss this spoon”….he did not do that.

Agree with this but also have to question if any of his teammates left it all out there? The only person I noticed look like putting in was Seyfarth and even he was questionable.

 

[GCfan]

You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear

Well Bellamy must be a freakin fashion designer then because he seems to do it regularly. He’s a regular Dolce & Gabbana that man

 

[Lestronge]

It’s a poor footy side. Has been for years. A leader of shit, will only produce more shit.

That’s a cop out man . You can only control your performance , especially as a front rower . It’s an important job . But a very simple one . If youre lazy in defence and apathetic towards work , that has very little to do with the team you’re in .
Friday night was a disgrace from him . Sure he could be an international , but not if that’s the level he’s dishing up . That’s bench for KOE level performance .

 

[Lestronge]

The bloke showed his character all year. You certainly wouldn't want to be in the trenches with a bloke like that. Best thing for tigers culture going forward is to weed out the weak. Its a net positive leaving the club, the money and an instant upgrade in Hunt even if Hunt only plays 20mins a game.

Exactly ! I’d honestly rather twal play the difference , make his tackles , make his hitups , and play the percentages . Allow a hunt to come on and change the tempo .
Rather than a one hit up where he knocks a dummy half flying to drop like a fly and 5 others where he gets turned on his back and takes a year and half to get the play the ball going , to basically screw over anyone who dares take a hit up after him .

 

[Mccarry]

That’s a cop out man . You can only control your performance , especially as a front rower . It’s an important job . But a very simple one . If youre lazy in defence and apathetic towards work , that has very little to do with the team you’re in .
Friday night was a disgrace from him . Sure he could be an international , but not if that’s the level he’s dishing up . That’s bench for KOE level performance .

100%.

 

[Mccarry]

Exactly ! I’d honestly rather twal play the difference , make his tackles , make his hitups , and play the percentages . Allow a hunt to come on and change the tempo .
Rather than a one hit up where he knocks a dummy half flying to drop like a fly and 5 others where he gets turned on his back and takes a year and half to get the play the ball going , to basically screw over anyone who dares take a hit up after him .

Twal and Hunt could be a good pair. Twal has the motor to put in loads of minutes, is a strong defender. Hunt brings the bite in attack that Twal often lacks )especially after we broke his offload)

 

[Lestronge]

One thing also with Stef , he doesn’t get his legs splayed when he’s in contact , which allows the second man in to pull his legs together and the third to help twist him onto his back , allowing the first man to just control the ruck until the ref tells him to get off .
Twal , just FYI , is really good at getting his legs apart , and driving through contact , only he’s not so good at using his arms to keep the defence from getting a hold of him , so he usually gets a photo with 3 guys on him . I will say this about twal , if he just trusted his offload and was less risk averse , he would create a lot of second phase as he tends to get his arms free a lot and stands in a lot of tackles .

 

[Lestronge]

The Stef has a clause stories started before rd 1. Unfortunately I’d say Melbourne expressed their interest and 2024 became an exit operation for Stef & his management. Fix the club, stop it happening.

What a load dribble . He was trying to push for origin early . That’s all he talked about . He checked out when Madge let him know his performances were not good enough . So instead of looking in the mirror he looked for the exit door .
I think Richo has it spot on , where he basically said you need to be up for the fight / crocodile roll.
Would you expect stefano to get up and want to kill a bloke after a tackle ? I’ve seen that aggression from him once , and it was a great game . At the very least he had no fire or heart for the tigers , it will interesting if he develops that for the storm .

 

[Tucker]

Agree with this but also have to question if any of his teammates left it all out there? The only person I noticed look like putting in was Seyfarth and even he was questionable.

Oh yeah, dont get me wrong, they all played like weak pussy turds.

 

[mtd#2]

It’s a poor footy side. Has been for years. A leader of shit, will only produce more shit.

Easy to throw stones at 19-23 year olds eh

 

[mtd#2]

What a load dribble . He was trying to push for origin early . That’s all he talked about . He checked out when Madge let him know his performances were not good enough . So instead of looking in the mirror he looked for the exit door .
I think Richo has it spot on , where he basically said you need to be up for the fight / crocodile roll.
Would you expect stefano to get up and want to kill a bloke after a tackle ? I’ve seen that aggression from him once , and it was a great game . At the very least he had no fire or heart for the tigers , it will interesting if he develops that for the storm .

There was an article on him at the start of the year where he's quoted as becoming a leader etc.

He didn't lead anything. He isn't a leader. He's a plodder that will fill a role in the right team. And thank God that team isn't the tigers given the $$$ he is on. He's a 400k player on a good day

 

[BAGNF05]

That’s a cop out man . You can only control your performance , especially as a front rower . It’s an important job . But a very simple one . If youre lazy in defence and apathetic towards work , that has very little to do with the team you’re in .
Friday night was a disgrace from him . Sure he could be an international , but not if that’s the level he’s dishing up . That’s bench for KOE level performance .

Feels like he checked out this year. This club seems to wear good players out. They can’t keep sacrificing for no result. That’s how it feels to me anyway.