@jirskyr said in [Stefano](/post/1445771) said:
Do you get what I'm saying though?
Tried to word it the right way, lol.
Looks like a real footballer.
Stefano Utoikamanu extends until 2025..
- Thread starter GNR4LIFE
- Start date
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Do you get what I'm saying though?
Tried to word it the right way, lol.
Looks like a real footballer.
jirskyr
Well-known member
@demps said in [Stefano](/post/1445775) said:
No I heard you, he looks like he's chiseled from granite and barely an ounce of fat. He's got a youthful face (of course, he's still a kid) but he looks a hard man already.
@jirskyr said in [Stefano](/post/1445782) said:
Precisely.
Guys built for it.
He's a special talent and we should be moving mountains to ensure he's happy and stays with us till the end.
hammertime
Well-known member
If we were smart, we'd be extending him now before the spotlight grows brighter on him.
But pascoe is probably busy with his hair.
But pascoe is probably busy with his hair.
TheDaBoss
Well-known member
I thanked some eels fans online a few games ago for giving him to us . Which the only response they could muster up was thanking us for giving them moses 😂😂
jirskyr
Well-known member
@thedaboss said in [Stefano](/post/1446331) said:
And you said "you are very welcome".
TheDaBoss
Well-known member
@jirskyr said in [Stefano](/post/1446731) said:
Something more along the lines of
U can have him, he is a deck head
Fittler has rated Stefano as a potential Origin player for a while. He already reminds me of Haas and Dave Fifita. The kind of player you build a strong side around. Must be retained long term. Can well imagine teams like Broncos, Chooks and Storm coming after the young man first chance they get.
Tiger_Fanatic3
Well-known member
**Utoikamanu primed for Panthers challenge**
https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2021/08/26/utoikamanu-primed-for-panthers-challenge/
Michael Blok
Timestamp
Thu 26 Aug 2021
Stefano Utoikamanu has put his hand up to lead from the front against the in-from Panthers on Sunday afternoon.
The young forward was disappointed with how the Wests Tigers forwards performed against Cronulla last weekend and they’ll be seeking improvement when they travel to Redcliffe this time around.
“This week we’ve got to improve a lot,” Utoikamanu said.
“Last week wasn’t our best performance [against the Sharks], especially in the middle. As a pack, we didn’t play our best … this week we’ve got to be a lot better.
“From the start, it was too fast and we spent the whole game catching up, but we couldn’t. They built too much momentum in the game and we couldn’t get back into it.”
Utoikamanu understands it’s going to be a big challenge against Penrith’s strong forward pack — which boasts the likes of James Fisher-Harris, Isaah Yeo, Tevita Pangai Junior and Viliame Kikau — but he’s looking forward to the contest.
Following an impressive 26-6 win at Leichhardt Oval in Round 13, Wests Tigers will be aiming for back-to-back wins against the Mountain Men for the first time since 2013.
“It’s going to be tough coming up against some of the best players in the comp,” he said.
“They base their game on what we want to do. We’ve got to do the same against them — complete and be happy to chase teams down — just stay in the grind.”
Although finals are all but out of reach in 2021, Utoikamanu said Wests Tigers want to finish the year on a high with matches against the Panthers and Bulldogs to round out the season.
“We need to put in two good performances for ourselves,” he said.
“Everyone wants to play their best … we want to finish strong.”
https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2021/08/26/utoikamanu-primed-for-panthers-challenge/
Michael Blok
Timestamp
Thu 26 Aug 2021
Stefano Utoikamanu has put his hand up to lead from the front against the in-from Panthers on Sunday afternoon.
The young forward was disappointed with how the Wests Tigers forwards performed against Cronulla last weekend and they’ll be seeking improvement when they travel to Redcliffe this time around.
“This week we’ve got to improve a lot,” Utoikamanu said.
“Last week wasn’t our best performance [against the Sharks], especially in the middle. As a pack, we didn’t play our best … this week we’ve got to be a lot better.
“From the start, it was too fast and we spent the whole game catching up, but we couldn’t. They built too much momentum in the game and we couldn’t get back into it.”
Utoikamanu understands it’s going to be a big challenge against Penrith’s strong forward pack — which boasts the likes of James Fisher-Harris, Isaah Yeo, Tevita Pangai Junior and Viliame Kikau — but he’s looking forward to the contest.
Following an impressive 26-6 win at Leichhardt Oval in Round 13, Wests Tigers will be aiming for back-to-back wins against the Mountain Men for the first time since 2013.
“It’s going to be tough coming up against some of the best players in the comp,” he said.
“They base their game on what we want to do. We’ve got to do the same against them — complete and be happy to chase teams down — just stay in the grind.”
Although finals are all but out of reach in 2021, Utoikamanu said Wests Tigers want to finish the year on a high with matches against the Panthers and Bulldogs to round out the season.
“We need to put in two good performances for ourselves,” he said.
“Everyone wants to play their best … we want to finish strong.”
Tiger_Fanatic3
Well-known member
**Front-row Future: Stefano stands tall in recurring Wests Tigers Tale**
Dan Walsh
NRL.com Reporter
https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2021/08/31/front-row-future-stefano-stands-tall-in-recurring-tigers-tale/
rookie Stefano Utoikamanu is fast-emerging as a forward leader not just for the future but the here and now, especially after sitting Viliame Kikau on his backside.
Utoikamanu has been one of the more consistent bright spots in another disappointing Tigers campaign and stood tall once more in a 30-16 loss to premiership heavyweights Penrith on Sunday.
Coming to the close of his first full NRL season, Utoikamanu started with a not-so rare try against the Panthers, bagging his fifth four-pointer of the year by backing up a break from hooker Jacob Liddle.
Utoikamanu was at the forefront of a spirited Tigers start in which he held his own against Penrith's gun big men James Fisher-Harris, Isaah Yeo, Moses Leota and Kikau.
The 21-year-old made a memorable acquaintance with Kikau in the form of a thundering hit on the Fijian, though the Panthers back-rower laughed last with a try and compelling display in Penrith's win.
Still, Utoikamanu finished with 127 run metres and 33 tackles in the middle, delivering a little bit more on the potential NSW coach Brad Fittler spoke of when he called him into Origin camp earlier in the year.
"I thought Stefano in the middle there stood up for us really well," coach Michael Maguire said.
"He's only young and when you're in the middle of the park it's a fair workload. "But he's matched it with a lot of the players he's played against. He took them on today.
"It's about getting a few others with him and we've got a number of guys there that will come into the [NRL] group over a period of time that will add to what we're doing."
The Tigers were left ruing a 15-minute stretch saddling halftime in which a 6-6 deadlock ballooned to a 24-6 deficit at Redcliffe's Moreton Daily Stadium.
A late knee injury to back-rower Alex Seyfarth – in his first game back from damaging his MCL in the same knee – appeared to add salt to the wounds, though Maguire believes he has just twinged the ligament rather than re-injured it.
Otherwise it was similar story to what the Tigers have known all year, one which continues the longest current finals drought in the NRL.
"To see the boys fight and compete is something we need to make sure we take forward," Maguire said.
"You play like that throughout a season and play consistent footy like that you're going to find yourself with a lot more wins. "It's an up and down ride but we've had plenty of times where I've sat in this press conference talking about patches of games where we hurt ourselves.
"There's probably another one there tonight. For a period of time there we didn't go with them."
Dan Walsh
NRL.com Reporter
https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2021/08/31/front-row-future-stefano-stands-tall-in-recurring-tigers-tale/
rookie Stefano Utoikamanu is fast-emerging as a forward leader not just for the future but the here and now, especially after sitting Viliame Kikau on his backside.
Utoikamanu has been one of the more consistent bright spots in another disappointing Tigers campaign and stood tall once more in a 30-16 loss to premiership heavyweights Penrith on Sunday.
Coming to the close of his first full NRL season, Utoikamanu started with a not-so rare try against the Panthers, bagging his fifth four-pointer of the year by backing up a break from hooker Jacob Liddle.
Utoikamanu was at the forefront of a spirited Tigers start in which he held his own against Penrith's gun big men James Fisher-Harris, Isaah Yeo, Moses Leota and Kikau.
The 21-year-old made a memorable acquaintance with Kikau in the form of a thundering hit on the Fijian, though the Panthers back-rower laughed last with a try and compelling display in Penrith's win.
Still, Utoikamanu finished with 127 run metres and 33 tackles in the middle, delivering a little bit more on the potential NSW coach Brad Fittler spoke of when he called him into Origin camp earlier in the year.
"I thought Stefano in the middle there stood up for us really well," coach Michael Maguire said.
"He's only young and when you're in the middle of the park it's a fair workload. "But he's matched it with a lot of the players he's played against. He took them on today.
"It's about getting a few others with him and we've got a number of guys there that will come into the [NRL] group over a period of time that will add to what we're doing."
The Tigers were left ruing a 15-minute stretch saddling halftime in which a 6-6 deadlock ballooned to a 24-6 deficit at Redcliffe's Moreton Daily Stadium.
A late knee injury to back-rower Alex Seyfarth – in his first game back from damaging his MCL in the same knee – appeared to add salt to the wounds, though Maguire believes he has just twinged the ligament rather than re-injured it.
Otherwise it was similar story to what the Tigers have known all year, one which continues the longest current finals drought in the NRL.
"To see the boys fight and compete is something we need to make sure we take forward," Maguire said.
"You play like that throughout a season and play consistent footy like that you're going to find yourself with a lot more wins. "It's an up and down ride but we've had plenty of times where I've sat in this press conference talking about patches of games where we hurt ourselves.
"There's probably another one there tonight. For a period of time there we didn't go with them."
jrtiger
Well-known member
upgrade and extend now. $550k for 5 years.
cochise
Well-known member
@jrtiger said in [Stefano](/post/1459153) said:
That would be a bargain.
jrtiger
Well-known member
@cochise said in [Stefano](/post/1459155) said:
I'd go higher, but if we can get the deal done now with an increased number of years it'll be a decent piece of business. Lomax is only on $500k at the Dragons, but is on a 6 year deal, players will take that kind of security if it's on offer.
It was great watching him run over the top of Kikau. Sick of hearing how he's a barnstorming forward when all he does is run at halves and centres. Stef levelled him.
weststigerman
Well-known member
Anyone else worried about him wanting out in the off season?
The trend for the last 2 years has been one of our best performed players ends up getting released and before that it was the coach.
It would be nice if we can get through the off season without losing one of our better players.
The trend for the last 2 years has been one of our best performed players ends up getting released and before that it was the coach.
It would be nice if we can get through the off season without losing one of our better players.
cochise
Well-known member
@weststigerman said in [Stefano](/post/1459266) said:
Not worried at all.
yeahcaz
Well-known member
@weststigerman said in [Stefano](/post/1459266) said:
After one year of first grade ? No.
He doesn’t strike me as that person
Don Kershane
Well-known member
Had Parra been able to keep him they would be unlikely to go out of the finals in straight sets as they do every year and will do for the forseeable future.
Bula
Well-known member
@jrtiger said in [Stefano](/post/1459160) said:
Call him in and say Stef, we want you to be a ten year player for us. Come back on Friday and tell us how we make that happen.
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