Stefano Utoikamanu

[Tigerm]

I reckon Seyfarth, Pole and Sione Fainu have outperformed Stef this season. They'd all be on a pittance. Stef wants elite prop level dollars.

He does do some real good hit-ups every game along with a dropped ball or two and his lateral movement defensively needs a tonne of work. He is a work in progress.

Just don’t think we can afford to wait any longer, we are now staring at our 3rd spoon.
These expensive forwards are not delivering, they need to go.

 

[Ned Kelly]

These last few weeks should have been the time for Stefano to really step up and show all the

 

[Tiger05]

Just don’t think we can afford to wait any longer, we are now staring at our 3rd spoon.
These expensive forwards are not delivering, they need to go.

We can't keep paying guys top dollar and they don't perform.

 

[Tigerm]

Tigers star linked with QLD club; Broncos son of a gun heading overseas — Whispers

Tigers star linked with QLD club; Broncos son of a gun heading overseas — Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

Apparently, he met with Craig Bellamy after the Storm game at some stage as well.

 

[Tiger05]

Tigers star linked with QLD club; Broncos son of a gun heading overseas — Whispers

Tigers star linked with QLD club; Broncos son of a gun heading overseas — Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

Apparently, he met with Craig Bellamy after the Storm game at some stage as well.

He is doing the rounds trying to get the best possible contract but delivering sweet f**k all.

 

[Wizardman]

He has not earnt the right to have a contract extension at the price he desires. Im guessing our price is now the highest and wherever else he goes, he will be going for less.

 

[DJDL]

He is doing the rounds trying to get the best possible contract but delivering sweet f**k all.

Yeah it's an interesting strategy he's employed.
If we was a stock:

 

[Tigerm]

He is doing the rounds trying to get the best possible contract but delivering sweet f**k all.

Playing to his potential would have been enough, would have got him a great deal.

 

[Wizardman]

Playing to his potential would have been enough, would have got him a great deal.

Here is the issue though....if he played like he played in the first month, he would have been very much in the frame for Origin, therefore not activating his get out clause.

Lets hope he gets out....Im tired of him.

 

[Nutz]

Here is the issue though....if he played like he played in the first month, he would have been very much in the frame for Origin, therefore not activating his get out clause.

Lets hope he gets out....Im tired of him.

Your not on your Pat Malone mate.

 

[Tigerm]

MSN

www.msn.com

Storm 'not entirely confident' on Utoikamanu, maybe find out tomorrow?

Stefano Utoikamanu has been negotiating with rivals but the Tigers' chance of keeping him could be strong.
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We should downgrade our offer as well and give him incentives to get pay increases.

 

[Tiger05]

MSN

www.msn.com

Storm 'not entirely confident' on Utoikamanu, maybe find out tomorrow?

Stefano Utoikamanu has been negotiating with rivals but the Tigers' chance of keeping him could be strong.
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We should downgrade our offer as well and give him incentives to get pay increases.

I reckon he is exactly what we need if he can get some consistency to his game but I can't justify a 800k pay packet. I reckon Twal, Pole, Seyfarth and Sione Fainu do a better job more consistently.

I don't think we should give him incentives or special contract payments. He needs to commit and work on his game.

If he goes no problems.

 

[Das Hassler]

I reckon he is exactly what we need if he can get some consistency to his game

And if he can get that consistency at a consistently higher level!....he's been called the WT enforcer by the media. nowhere close to that yet but he's still a very young frontrower so he could still come out of any off-season a totally different player

 

[Vic Mackey]

Its got to a point where whether he stays or go ill feel like weve lost.

 

[Nutz]

Its got to a point where whether he stays or go ill feel like weve lost.

Same same

 

[Nutz]

And if he can get that consistency at a consistently higher level!....he's been called the WT enforcer by the media. nowhere close to that yet but he's still a very young frontrower so he could still come out of any off-season a totally different player

Yeh I have noticed a change I him since he returned from injury, but as far as being up there with Haas and co he needs to put another string to his bow. Either be a post contact metre eater, have a reliable offload or have a jinking running style. Atm he just runs straight and it's easier for the D to stop him. Watch how Fafita and Haas run, way different to Stefano.
At least he's not running too upright anymore.
I feel his best bet is to run with more aggression and get the offloads happening. This will increase his worth to any team.

 

[BrotherJim05]

Writing is on the wall. I'll be shocked if he doesn't bail to Melbourne. Especially after seeing how well Blore is playing...can't blame the kid to be honest.

This is a crucial moment for Richo. I'm hoping that during his trip to England he lined up 2-3 hard nosed, no nonsense forwards to replace everyone who's leaving (Paps, Stef, and apparently now Bateman).

If not, then we are completely f**ked next year. Luai isn't going to be able to do much without any go forward

 

[Wizardman]

Writing is on the wall. I'll be shocked if he doesn't bail to Melbourne. Especially after seeing how well Blore is playing...can't blame the kid to be honest.

This is a crucial moment for Richo. I'm hoping that during his trip to England he lined up 2-3 hard nosed, no nonsense forwards to replace everyone who's leaving (Paps, Stef, and apparently now Bateman).

If not, then we are completely f**ked next year. Luai isn't going to be able to do much without any go forward

We need an answer with this bloke ASAP now. He is as good as gone but we need confirmation of it so that we know what we have to go to the open market.
I'd seen from somewhere that the Storm offer is actually higher than our offer which I'd find hard to believe.
Get the answer asap and move forward,

 

[Tiger05]

Writing is on the wall. I'll be shocked if he doesn't bail to Melbourne. Especially after seeing how well Blore is playing...can't blame the kid to be honest.

This is a crucial moment for Richo. I'm hoping that during his trip to England he lined up 2-3 hard nosed, no nonsense forwards to replace everyone who's leaving (Paps, Stef, and apparently now Bateman).

If not, then we are completely f**ked next year. Luai isn't going to be able to do much without any go forward

I disagree with a lot of this.

Firstly I'm not sure he is gone. The question is are they offering more than us. If they are he is gone. If not he might stay.

I also don't think we are f**ked if he goes. I think Pole, Seyfarth, Twal and Sione Fainu are good middle forwards. We do need some other guys coming through and back-ups but we don't need more overpaid underperforming forwards. Those guys I mention are getting the job done and I think on plenty of times they are doing a better job than Stef. Stef is very straight up and down whereas those guys have more to their game maybe excluding Twal.

I think Blore is a classic example of how we stuff up. We let him go and signed Bateman and Papalli. We also signed Samuela Fainu who I think is better than Blore especially on an edge but the two bigger money signings haven't been much better than Blore and so we stuff our cap signing guys to turn us around and they aren't good enough.

To me it's about building a quality team and paying 800k for a prop who doesn't deliver the same value consistently that guys playing the same position who are paid 300k do it just seems like a bad deal.

 

[Nutz]

I'd seen from somewhere that the Storm offer is actually higher than our offer which I'd find hard to believe.
Get the answer asap and move forward,

We've got Shane Richardson who is a shrewd operator, he'll be getting the best outcome for us.
Gordon Tallis has labelled Stefano as “overhyped” and believes he isn’t worth the bidding frenzy his signature is getting.
However
I reckon the Storm who have apparently offered a $4 million, five-year deal, could use him right now as they push for a grand final. If that's the case, I reckon Stef would have accepted what we offered to play for the Storm. I
I think it's going to come down to whether Bellyache is wanting him now and is willing to budge for an immediate departure. Look what happened to Blore....he's been sensational for the Storm since we let him go and there's good blood between us and them since the successful trade and return of Harry Grant.
Failing a mid season swap I agree with you Wizard...we need answers.
I hope we are not entertaining a deal with Nelson Asofa-Solomona still...he's showing signs of aging.