Stefano Utoikamanu to sign with Melbourne Storm after rejecting Canterbury Bulldogs’ offer

Phil Gould’s legendary powers of persuasion have failed once again with Stefano Utoikamanu rejecting the Bulldogs and signing with premiership powerhouse Melbourne Storm.

Stefano Utoikamanu has quit the Wests Tigers. Picture: NRL Photos

Departing Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu will join the Melbourne Storm next season on a multi-year deal, further enhancing the Storm’s premiership credentials.Utoikamanu has told the Storm he will sign with them after knocking back an approach from the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Much of the rugby league world had Utoikamanu joining Canterbury next season, but the desire to join one of the competition’s heavyweights has swung the decision in Melbourne’s favour. He has signed a three-year contract to join Melbourne.

Stefano Utoikamanu will depart the Wests Tigers at season’s end.

“Stefano is an exciting young forward and also an impressive young man,” said Melbourne’s head of football Frank Ponissi. “I’m sure he’s going to come with a working hard attitude and be ready for a big pre-season when he joins us later this year.

“We are excited to welcome Stefano and his family to the club.

It’s a bitter blow for Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo and head of football Phil Gould, who identified Utoikamanu as the man to lead their forward pack into the future.

The Bulldogs had been considered favourites, given Utoikamanu’s apparent reluctance to move away from Sydney with his partner and two young children. But those fears must have been allayed when Utoikamanu travelled to Melbourne last month to meet with the Storm officials.

A host of clubs including the Dolphins, Dragons and Raiders had made moves to sign the 24-year-old, while his current club the Tigers were also desperate to keep him. Utoikamanu also travelled to meet with the Dolphins officials recently.

Utoikamanu started at prop during the Tigers’ 48-30 loss to the Cowboys on Thursday night.

Following the match and prior to making his mind up, Utoikamanu said the protracted and public contract talk had resulted in a dip in form.

“It’s been pretty tough. I’m not used to seeing my name in the media 24/7,” Utoikamanu said. “It’s good, but it’s made it hard for me to find my stride in my footy.

“It’s a pretty weird situation I’m in, and it’s not ideal that I had to make a decision on where I want to go during the season.

“I feel like that’s kind of messed up my season a bit. When we made the deal before, the clause ended up being pretty good for me and not so good for the club.”

Craig Bellamy and the Storm have secured a major signing. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Fans booed Utoikamanu when he ran out onto Leichhardt Oval on Thursday, and expressed their frustration with the front-rower on each of his 11 hit-ups.

Although he expected the hostility to be worse, Utoikamanu left Tigers fans with a message of his love and admiration for the club.

“I was probably expecting a bit more (booing), but tonight was quieter than what it would normally be on a Saturday or Sunday. That was probably good for me,” he said. “I love this club and everyone in it. I love all the boys and the coaches, so it was probably the hardest decision I’ve had to make in my career so far.

“I’m disappointed that I have to leave.”