NRL news: Melbourne Storm, Raiders and Dragons chasing Stefano Utoikamanu

Dragons make a play to land a star young hooker from the Bulldogs, while the biggest threat to the Wests Tigers’ hopes of keeping Stefano Utoikamanu emerges. LATEST TRANSFER NEWS

Melbourne Storm have emerged as arguably the greatest threat to the Wests Tigers’ hopes of keeping Stefano Utoikamanu as they prepare to offer the young front rower what he desperately craves - the chance to join a premiership contender.

It comes as the Raiders have confirmed their plan to also enter the race for the young prop - the first club to publicly declare their interest in trying to lure the 25-year-old.

Utoikamanu has been given permission by the Tigers to explore his options on the open market as he contemplates a move away from the club at the end of the season.

The Tigers have tabled a five-year contract extension worth $4 million but Utoikamanu has privately indicated his desire to test the market is less about money and more about being at a club that can offer him an opportunity to compete for a title.

It gives the Storm the early advantage over the other clubs who have expressed an interest in his services - St George Illawarra and Canberra have been the most proactive thus far as they prepare to table offers worth up to $1 million a season.

Stefano Utoikamanu has a number of clubs chasing his services.

The Dragons are on the improve under coach Shane Flanagan but will lose Zac Lomax at the end of the season and may be another 12 months at least away from contending.

The Raiders started the season well but their hopes of securing Utoikamanu weren’t helped last weekend when they were dismantled by the Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium.

Raiders CEO Don Furner has confirmed the club is preparing to enter the race for the 115kg prop in preparation for the curtain coming down on club champion Josh Papalii, who is off-contract at the end of 2025.

“Stefano is a top quality player and we’re interested in top quality players,” Furner told this masthead.

“Stefano’s management is aware of our serious interest.”

The Bulldogs are also monitoring Utoikamanu’s situation but it is understood they are not interested in entering a bidding war for the 24-year-old and already have Tom Amone joining them next season from Super League.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona is on the outer at the Storm. Picture: Getty Images

The Dolphins are the other club believed to be keeping a close eye on Utoikamanu as they prepare for the retirement of Jesse Bromwich and deal with uncertainty over the playing future of Tom Flagler.

The Storm, however, are one of the few legitimate competition heavyweights who have expressed an interest in Utoikamanu, having wasted no time reaching out to his management when they were informed he was up for grabs.

There is a belief in Melbourne that they are a middle forward short and while their cap is tight, the club believes it can move some pieces and make a play for Utoikamanu.

Their interest comes as a cloud remains over the future of powerful front rower Nelson Asofa-Solomona - the Tigers have explored his availability as a contingency plan if Utoikamanu decides he wants a change of scene.

Asofa-Solomona is believed to be reluctant to leave Melbourne for another NRL club, but he has a rugby union background and was close to switching codes before signing his latest deal with the Storm.

At the time, he had offers on the table from overseas rugby union clubs but opted to sign a long-term extension with Melbourne.

However he has spent a large part of this season coming off the interchange bench amid suggestions he is struggling to keep the faith of coach Craig Bellamy.

While Melbourne have signaled they will make a play for Utoikamanu, it is understood the other heavyweights of the NRL - Penrith, the Sydney Roosters and Brisbane - have indicated they will not be involved in the clamour for his signature.

The Sharks are also out of the picture, having already strengthened their front row stocks for next season with the signing of Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake.

It leaves the Storm in the box seat to sign Utoikamanu, provided they can convince him and his partner to pack up their life and move to Melbourne.

DRAGONS TO POACH TOP YOUNG DOG

St George Illawarra are already planning for life after Damien Cook with the club set to sign Bulldogs young gun Mason Phillips.

It is understood the Dragons have made a play to land the young hooker on a long-term deal.

It comes after the Dragons signed veteran Cook on a two-year contract from next season.

Phillips was signed from the Bulldogs from Queensland and has been part of their Harold Matthews set-up in the past two years. He started at hooker in their semi-final loss to the Warriors earlier this year.

The Dragons have been desperately searching to stockpile their hooking stocks and have taken a sensible approach by landing a veteran rake with one of the game’s best young prospects.

Cook, who turned 33 last Sunday, is a stopgap solution for the Dragons but his experience will prove to be vital as he works alongside Phillips and assists his path into the top grade.

Cook and incumbent Jacob Liddle will share the hooking duties next season. Liddle still has 12 month left on his deal with a mutual option for 2026.

CLUBS LOOK TO SHORE UP COACHING RANKS FOR 2025

Incoming Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf is busily planning for life after Wayne Bennett after making two key coaching appointments from NRL rivals St George Illawarra and Newcastle.

Woolf will surround himself with new assistant coaches including brother Ben and ex-Storm and North Queensland player Rory Kostjasyn.

It is understood that Ben told the Dragons of his decision to link up with his brother last month when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The Dragons face the Dolphins on Sunday.

Tweed Seagulls Intrust Super Cup coach Ben Woolf.

While Kostjasyn will relocate to Brisbane for family reasons with his young family having been Adam O’Brien’s assistant coach in recent seasons at the Knights.

The Dragons meanwhile have locked down their other assistant coach in Ryan Carr whose contract was also expiring at the end of this season.

Carr and Ben Woolf were already part of St George Illawarra’s coaching staff when Shane Flanagan was announced in his role. The pair were brought to the club by former coach Anthony Griffin ahead of the 2023 season on two year contracts.

Ben Woolf had spent the five years before taking on the job at the Dragons as head coach of Queensland Cup side Tweed Head Seagulls while Carr impressed during his short-stint as caretaker coach at the Dragons last year.

Woolf is in charge of St George Illawarra’s NSW Cup side this year.

The Dragons have extended assistant coach Ryan Carr’s deal. Picture: Getty Images

The Dragons may be forced to change their assistant coach set-up with Dean Young in the race to be Brad Arthur’s replacement at Parramatta.

Young has been interviewed by the Eels and has been given a strong endorsement from Flanagan to take over the head coaching duties. Young is competing with ex-teammate Jason Ryles and current Cronulla Sharks assistant Josh Hannay for the top job at Parramatta.

The Eels are hopeful of finalising a decision in the coming days with Hannay’s interview delayed because of his Origin commitments.