jirskyr
Well-known member
@kingrobbie said in [Stefano](/post/1514531) said:
Well I'm sure he exists somewhere, just not on the books at Tigers.
Stefano Utoikamanu extends until 2025..
- Thread starter GNR4LIFE
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Well I'm sure he exists somewhere, just not on the books at Tigers.
innsaneink
Well-known member
Poor Harry
twentyforty
Well-known member
@kingrobbie said in [Stefano](/post/1514531) said:
Can’t blame them I guess, we all want another Harry on the books, even non- WT supporters.
BAGNF05
Well-known member
@jirskyr said in [Stefano](/post/1514590) said:
Tottenham, England
@hsvjones said in [Stefano](/post/1514320) said:
It's hard not to be concerned when we're wanting an extension done asap. The comments about Stef being put on the radar of others since the Melbourne offer are behind the curve - no doubt he's been on the radar of opposition recruitment for a lot longer than a week.
It's a major reason why I hope the Thompson signing happens. We're probably talking up a rosy Tigers future to Stef - particularly now that a decent signing or t seem to be happening - but nothing will show how serious we are about improving the team and giving Stef some overdue support up front than the Thompson signing.
It gives him immediate support from an experienced player.
BAGNF05
Well-known member
@barra said in [Stefano](/post/1514600) said:
This 100%
Don Kershane
Well-known member
It's not often the Tigers are in a position to turn down a player of Brandon Smith's calibre, but if it was going to cost them the player who could be the cornerstone of their pack for the next decade, it made the decision a no-brainer.
Melbourne offered up their star dummy half to the joint venture on a one-year deal ahead of his anticipated move to the Roosters for 2023, but the Tigers slammed the door shut on any talks when the Storm asked for rising prop Stefano Utoikamanu in return.
Smith is close to the top hooker in the NRL, and even one year of the star rake would have been a boon for the Tigers, but in Utoikamanu they've got close to the best young forward in the competition.
Stefano Utoikamanu fends off a Rabbitohs player.
Stefano Utoikamanu is seen as one of the most exciting young forwards in the NRL.(Getty Images/Mark Nolan)
"Even if it's [a swap] for one of the best players in the league at the moment, he's [Utoikamanu] still young and has a lot to learn and can get better and better. It was an obvious decision but the Tigers made the right decision," said Tigers skipper James Tamou.
"It's a massive wrap, he's still a kid too and as a front rower he's got a lot of maturing to do. After the year he had he's going to get better but fingers crossed he'll stay at the club for a long time."
For all the criticism the Tigers wear over their recruitment and retention, landing Utoikamanu from Parramatta last season proved to be a masterstroke.
The 21-year old grew in leaps and bounds as the season went on, justifying the wraps he earned as a junior and landing a berth in the Blues Origin camp for Game III.
He ended the season as the club's best middle, a title he will likely hold for years to come as he continues to improve.
After 10 years outside the finals it's natural for fans to look for a quick fix, but it's rare that one big signing changes a club's fortunes – most of the time you need to hit a few singles before belting a six out of the ground.
In Utoikamanu, Adam Doueihi and Daine Laurie in recent years, the Tigers have built a very solid foundation for the future. And landing established stars Isaiah Papali'i and Api Koroisau for 2023 is proof the club is not as far off the pace as their finish to this season may have indicated.
Tamou knows first hand the impact Koroisau, a former teammate at Penrith, can bring to Concord.
"For him to come here, and the way the game has gone and how many times a hooker touches a ball, you've got forwards who are fatiguing easier, you need a quick, decisive hooker like that to create," Tamou said.
"He's the best in the business after winning the grand final with the Panthers. He's a great signing for us and an indicator of where this club's heading."
While coach Michael Maguire still faces an uncertain future after he barely escaped the sack following the Tigers' meek finish to the year, where they were outscored 118-36 in their final three games, Tamou said the former premiership winner was working harmoniously with new football boss Tim Sheens.
In landing Koroisau and Papali'i, Sheens has made an immediate impact – but it's worth noting that both players have strong links to Maguire.
The Wests tigers NRL coach looks towards reporters during a media conference in 2021.
West Tigers coach Michael Maguire has a point to prove this season, and Utoikamanu could help him do it.(Getty Images: Albert Perez)
Koroisau was part of South Sydney's 2014 premiership side while Maguire handed Papali'i his Test debut for New Zealand in 2018.
"Madge has room to knuckle down and coach and especially with the young group we had, we all made an agreement we wouldn't experience another 12 months like that, so our improvement needs to be through the roof," Tamou said.
"It gives me confidence that the club is in a great place.
"I'm still in rehab at the moment. It was well documented at the end of the season that some coaches got tapped on. What I hear is that everything is going great.
"We've got a couple of new coaches coming in, Nathan Cayless from the Roosters and Ben Gardiner who's been with a couple of clubs and with the NSW Cup side and around Madge for a while.
"[Sheens brings] a lot of footy knowledge, you can't doubt that with Sheensy. Broosky [Luke Brooks] for example has come in firing and ready to train the house down. He's taken a step forward and Sheensy has a lot to do with that.
"This is Madge's team and he's not shy in letting anyone come in and help out where needs be. Sheensy has taken that burden off Madge so Madge can do his thing."
ABC Website
Melbourne offered up their star dummy half to the joint venture on a one-year deal ahead of his anticipated move to the Roosters for 2023, but the Tigers slammed the door shut on any talks when the Storm asked for rising prop Stefano Utoikamanu in return.
Smith is close to the top hooker in the NRL, and even one year of the star rake would have been a boon for the Tigers, but in Utoikamanu they've got close to the best young forward in the competition.
Stefano Utoikamanu fends off a Rabbitohs player.
Stefano Utoikamanu is seen as one of the most exciting young forwards in the NRL.(Getty Images/Mark Nolan)
"Even if it's [a swap] for one of the best players in the league at the moment, he's [Utoikamanu] still young and has a lot to learn and can get better and better. It was an obvious decision but the Tigers made the right decision," said Tigers skipper James Tamou.
"It's a massive wrap, he's still a kid too and as a front rower he's got a lot of maturing to do. After the year he had he's going to get better but fingers crossed he'll stay at the club for a long time."
For all the criticism the Tigers wear over their recruitment and retention, landing Utoikamanu from Parramatta last season proved to be a masterstroke.
The 21-year old grew in leaps and bounds as the season went on, justifying the wraps he earned as a junior and landing a berth in the Blues Origin camp for Game III.
He ended the season as the club's best middle, a title he will likely hold for years to come as he continues to improve.
After 10 years outside the finals it's natural for fans to look for a quick fix, but it's rare that one big signing changes a club's fortunes – most of the time you need to hit a few singles before belting a six out of the ground.
In Utoikamanu, Adam Doueihi and Daine Laurie in recent years, the Tigers have built a very solid foundation for the future. And landing established stars Isaiah Papali'i and Api Koroisau for 2023 is proof the club is not as far off the pace as their finish to this season may have indicated.
Tamou knows first hand the impact Koroisau, a former teammate at Penrith, can bring to Concord.
"For him to come here, and the way the game has gone and how many times a hooker touches a ball, you've got forwards who are fatiguing easier, you need a quick, decisive hooker like that to create," Tamou said.
"He's the best in the business after winning the grand final with the Panthers. He's a great signing for us and an indicator of where this club's heading."
While coach Michael Maguire still faces an uncertain future after he barely escaped the sack following the Tigers' meek finish to the year, where they were outscored 118-36 in their final three games, Tamou said the former premiership winner was working harmoniously with new football boss Tim Sheens.
In landing Koroisau and Papali'i, Sheens has made an immediate impact – but it's worth noting that both players have strong links to Maguire.
The Wests tigers NRL coach looks towards reporters during a media conference in 2021.
West Tigers coach Michael Maguire has a point to prove this season, and Utoikamanu could help him do it.(Getty Images: Albert Perez)
Koroisau was part of South Sydney's 2014 premiership side while Maguire handed Papali'i his Test debut for New Zealand in 2018.
"Madge has room to knuckle down and coach and especially with the young group we had, we all made an agreement we wouldn't experience another 12 months like that, so our improvement needs to be through the roof," Tamou said.
"It gives me confidence that the club is in a great place.
"I'm still in rehab at the moment. It was well documented at the end of the season that some coaches got tapped on. What I hear is that everything is going great.
"We've got a couple of new coaches coming in, Nathan Cayless from the Roosters and Ben Gardiner who's been with a couple of clubs and with the NSW Cup side and around Madge for a while.
"[Sheens brings] a lot of footy knowledge, you can't doubt that with Sheensy. Broosky [Luke Brooks] for example has come in firing and ready to train the house down. He's taken a step forward and Sheensy has a lot to do with that.
"This is Madge's team and he's not shy in letting anyone come in and help out where needs be. Sheensy has taken that burden off Madge so Madge can do his thing."
ABC Website
twentyforty
Well-known member
@don_kershane said in [Stefano](/post/1515595) said:
Further, I think Sheens arrival allowed the CEO and Chair to redistribute certain tasks and responsibilities. Sheens’ football knowledge coupled with his organisational skills appears to have relieved some people of having to wear a few hats. Hopefully we’re now more substance and less talk, certainly appears that way, and if so, I’ll make a bold prediction..we’ll play finals footy in 2022!
Re-sign Stef!
BAGNF05
Well-known member
@pablox said in [Stefano](/post/1518552) said:
A guy as talented as him would really be silly to commit to WT for any length of time (sadly). The big clubs would be lining up.
paul wright
New member
@tigerap said in [Stefano](/post/1518572) said:
Mate i honestly hope you are right and the club announces it this week.It would be the best xmas present i have had in years and i am not joking he is a player to lead our pigs for years
BAGNF05
Well-known member
@tigerap said in [Stefano](/post/1518572) said:
He signed with us as a nobody, now he’s a known man, and is about to be a made man after his next contract.
earl
Well-known member
I reckon he'll extend with us.
Tim Sheens
Well-known member
@pablox said in [Stefano](/post/1518552) said:
Normally wouldn't want to bet the house on a youngster based on a single season, but reckon the ute is a must keep and worth paying the extra dollars to make sure of it.
See Stefano as the cornerstone of WT middle even at this early stage of his career and when Papali'i arrives he will have already moved to another level as leader of the pack.
To echo a few words of a man that I hate, "how good" is it having a front rower who can run at holes, break through the line and more importantly, get over the try line when opportunities arise.
BAGNF05
Well-known member
@earl said in [Stefano](/post/1518577) said:
Hope you’re right Earl, Sheens sounds confident but this clubs track record couldn’t be much worse.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
@hsvjones said in [Stefano](/post/1519007) said:
I doubt it. It probably hasn’t been finalised yet.
Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan
Well-known member
@paul-wright said in [Stefano](/post/1518573) said:
I have a feeling that Stefano thinks he can play his best football here. We valued him so much that we paid a ridiculous amount of money for a cap-less prop. We are committed to building a good team around him, one that will allow him to play to the best of his ability.
The club realised they needed someone to take runs after Stefano. They got Laurie (take note of who makes a run before Laurie makes a break). We also signed Peachey who can generate a quick play of the ball straight after Stefano. Peachey is good because he only really calls the ball when he spots something half-decent.
They knew we needed an organiser. Someone who can give the best shapes for guys like Stefano who can run a good line off the dummy half. They got Hastings for next season. Let's see how this pans out.
We even went out and signed one of the best dummy halves at the moment (Koroisau).
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