Stefano Utoikamanu lifts the lid on real reason for taking less money to leave Tigers for Storm
The Wests Tigers threw big money at the prop to remain in Sydney for another few years
Stefano Utoikamanu has revealed his decision to leave Sydney and move to Melbourne was to force himself outside of his comfort zone and improve as a NRL player. Utoikamanu was offered a reported $4 million to remain at his former club with the Wests Tigers desperate to keep the 24-year-old in Sydney to help the rebuild.
However, Utoikamanu turned the competition on its head and linked up with Craig Bellamy and the Melbourne Storm on a deal reportedly worth less than what he would have made at the Tigers. Naturally, Tigers fans were frustrated with Utoikamanu joining the 2024 finalists with the prop arguably being the piece to the puzzle for the Storm as they look to go one step further in 2025.
And ahead of the Storm’s season opener against the Eels next week, Utoikamanu has revealed why he knocked back big-money deals for the Storm. Knocking back big offers from the Bulldogs and Wests Tigers was due to his desire to improve as a player and he felt Melbourne was the place to achieve this.
Utoikamanu’s partner and two sons have only just moved to Melbourne ahead of the NRL season. “Staying in Sydney is probably going to be the most comfortable for me because I have pretty much all my family there,” he said.
“I looked at coming here as being probably the most uncomfortable because I don’t really have anyone and I think that’s going to put me under pressure and make me work a bit harder. When you get comfortable with being uncomfortable, that’s when you strive in footy so I knew coming here I’m going to become a better player. I knew if I wanted to get the most out of myself, I probably needed to take a bit of a pay cut.”
Stefano Utoikamanu wins over new teammates
Storm leader Harry Grant has welcomed Utoikamanu with open arms in Melbourne. The addition of Utoikamanu, alongside towering prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona, has added much needed size to the forward pack.
And Grant has been impressed with the former Tigers’ work ethic in the pre-season. “He’s brought a lot of size, and we saw that on the weekend with his aggression and physicality,” Grant said of the forward after the trial. “One thing I’ve respected and been impressed by is he’s just come here to work and get better.
“He’s really bought into trying to get the best out of himself and working hard and wants to let his actions speak for him. If you do that well and for long enough, you’ve got a lot of respect within the group and he’s certainly found that now.”
Utoikamanu admitted he was looking forward to building a combination with Asofa-Solomona as the duo look to start their campaign against the Eels after a gruelling pre-season camp. ” I feel like I can take some things out of his game and add to my game,” he said.
“I’m already big and he’s bigger than me so it’s pretty cool that I’ll get to go out there and play with him. I’m excited to do it because I know we can do a bit of damage together.”
