‘Stefano should be playing Origin and for his country’: Former teammates back Utoikamanu to become the latest Tiger to flourish at the Storm
Former Tigers Tommy Talau and Luke Brooks have backed Stefano Utoikamanu to become the best front-rower in the world when he joins Melbourne, with the powerhouse prop hoping to follow in the footsteps of guys like Josh Addo-Carr and Shawn Blore who have thrived in the Storm system.
The Storm confirmed last week that Utoikamanu will join them in 2025 on a three-year deal after he turned down strong interest from the Bulldogs and a lucrative offer to stay at the Tigers.
Utoikamanu, 24, has shown glimpses of brilliance over the years, but the general consensus is that he’ll develop into one of the game’s elite forwards under Craig Bellamy’s tutelage.
Camera IconJosh Addo-Carr made his debut against the Storm and then won a title with them the following season. Brett Costello Credit: Supplied
He’s not the first promising player from the Tigers to join the Storm, with Marika Koroibete struggling for opportunities in Sydney before he turned into a weapon on the wing in Melbourne.
Josh Addo-Carr scored a stack of tries in reserve grade in 2016 having made his NRL debut against the Storm, and he made the most of his move south with 23 tries and a grand final ring 12 months later.
David Nofoaluma played his only finals game following a mid-season move to Melbourne, Shawn Blore is having his best year on the left edge, while Ryan Papenhuyzen left the Tigers system and claimed the Clive Churchill Medal in his second season with the Storm.
It’s why there are high hopes for Utoikamanu who made his Origin debut last year but missed out this time around which triggered one of the clauses for him to leave the Tigers.
“I know that Stefano wants to be the best front-rower in the game, and I feel like he has the potential to do that,” Talau said.
“He’s already played Origin as a front-rower, and we (the Tigers) weren’t going too well at the time so that goes to show what he’s capable of doing.
“I have no doubts that he’ll kill it down there. I think that he feels like he can improve and develop as a better front-rower.
“I’ve got no doubts that Stefano should be playing Origin and for his country because he’s a quality player.
“I know that Shawn Blore and people like that go to the Storm and excel so I don’t see why he won’t excel down there.”
Luke Brooks left the Tigers and is on track to break his finals drought with Manly next month, and he too feels like his former teammate is destined for big things.
“It doesn’t matter where they come from, but whenever they go to Melbourne, they turn out to be a superstar,” he said.
“He has definitely got the potential to be one of the best front-rowers in the world.
“Going down there to a proven system that we know works so well is a smart move for him.
“He’s still young. He’s played a bit of Origin before and I think this is a good move for him and for Melbourne. I don’t know what they do down there, but they keep turning out superstars. I’m excited for him.”
While the Tigers look headed for another wooden spoon, Brooks and Talau are enjoying life on the northern beaches where they find themselves in the finals hunt for the first time in a while.
Talau has already scored more tries and had more wins than in any previous season he’s played, with the outside back glad he made the move which has helped him develop on and off the field.
“It’s been awesome here so far,” he said.
“I feel like it’s been a lot more enjoyable for me, and winning obviously helps. I feel like I’m doing a lot of growing as a person and a player.
“I feel like I’m getting out of comfort zone a bit more here. You can get complacent and a bit comfortable if you’re in the same spot and doing the same things, but I felt like I had a lot more in me as a player and as a person.
“Coming to a new club has pushed me and it’s helped me grow.”
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