Transfer market: Stefano Utoikamanu spotted flying to Brisbane as Dolphins join race for star, Super League clubs target Tristan Sailor, Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s cryptic post
Stefano Utoikamanu has been spotted flying to Brisbane, fuelling speculation that a Queensland club is on the verge of making a play for the Tigers star. MARKET WATCH.
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Tigers rising star Stefano Utoikamanu has been spotted flying to Brisbane fuelling speculation that the Dolphins are one the verge of making a play for the game’s hottest young duo in Utoikamanu and Blaize Talagi.
Utoikamanu played for the Tigers during their heavy loss against the Sharks on Friday night but by Saturday afternoon was spotted at Sydney Airport on a flight bound for Brisbane.
The Broncos aren’t in a position to make a play for him given their forward depth already along with a stretched salary cap while the Dolphins are certainly keen on pursuing Utoikamanu.
It is understood that the Dolphins have joined Melbourne in trying to secure the 24-year-old prop.
The Tigers remain in the hunt to extend Utoikamanu despite the club granting him permission to speak with rival clubs.
The Dragons and Raiders had previously expressed an interest but the clubs are no longer pursuing the one-time NSW player.
While Utoikamanu remains a hot prospect on the open market, the Dolphins are also keen to entice Talagi out of Parramatta.
The Dolphins, Dragons and the Eels remain locked in discussions with the talented Eels junior.
The Knights are no longer in the race to secure the 19-year-old while St George Illawarra remain keen to sign him as a potential centre option.
The Dolphins are expected to look at Talagi as a long-term halves partner to Isaiya Katoa – who has established himself as one of the game’s best young halves.
Having splashed the cash this season on two marquee players in Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler from the Broncos, the Dolphins have been looking to add some young talent to their squad for next season.
While they remain locked in talks with Utoikamanu and Talagi they have already signed 21-year-old Tigers winger Junior Tupou and Cowboys back-rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 20. The pair have signed on for the next three seasons.
SUPER LEAGUE CLUBS TARGET TRISTAN SAILOR
Tristan Sailor is weighing up his future at the Broncos as Super League clubs wage a bidding war to poach Reece Walsh’s fullback understudy.
With Walsh away on Queensland Origin duty, Sailor will be a crucial backfield weapon for a Brisbane side under pressure to snap a five-game losing streak in Saturday night’s clash against the Dragons at Suncorp Stadium.
But how long Sailor remains in Broncos colours remains to be seen amid poaching raids from Super League clubs Hull FC and St Helens.
In an intriguing twist, Broncos coach Kevin Walters’ assistants, Lee Briers and John Cartwright, are in the thick of the fight and on a collision course for Sailor’s signature.
Briers will depart Brisbane at season’s end and is tipped to be an assistant at St Helens, while Cartwright will take theremins at Hull FC and is keen to make Sailor his marquee Australian recruit.
Sailor is contracted to the Broncos until the end of 2025, but could seek an early release from Walters if the terms of his English offers are palatable.
Sailor is happy at the Broncos, but having just turned 26, he is five years older than Walsh and realistic about his hopes of playing regular NRL at a club where ‘Reece Lightning’ is a fullback superstar.
The utility-back livewire managed just four games for the Broncos in his first year at the club last season and plays his eighth game this year against his former club the Dragons with Walsh in Camp Maroon for Origin III.
Compounding the frustration for Sailor, he has built a good friendship with Walsh, but the opportunity for regular game time in the English Super League could be too good to refuse.
Sailor, who wages a mouth-watering fullback showdown with Dragons ace Tyrell Sloan on Saturday night, said a fortnight ago the prospect of reluctantly quitting the Broncos was a consideration.
Now the interest from St Helens and Cartwright’s Hull FC makes it a live option.
“It’s definitely a hard one,” said Sailor of his Broncos future.
“I absolutely love the Broncos, but roster-wise it is very hard.
“That’s why, with the opportunities I get, I want to make the most of them.
“We have such a strong roster and the thing is everyone (in the playmaking spine) is younger than me … Jock (Madden), Ezra (Mam) and ‘Walshy’.
“As I always say, I have to take opportunities and where that comes, who knows where it might come.”
Walters has previously blocked a Sailor transfer. Last summer, the son of Broncos legend Wendell Sailor attracted a two-year deal from English club Leigh Leopards, but Walters stressed Tristan was a key part of his 2024 premiership plans.
But the ‘Reece Roadblock’ could eventually force the hand of Walters, who has explored ways to get Sailor into his top 17 on a weekly basis. He was named on Brisbane’s bench in rounds 6 and 7 but Walters aborted the strategy of having another back on interchange.
Sailor is likely to lean towards a move to Hull FC given that England Test star Jack Welsby is St Helens’ first-choice fullback.
Walters is keen to keep Sailor at Red Hill but says his sole focus is ensuring Walsh’s back-up custodian fires against the Red V to keep 13th-placed Brisbane (7-9) in the finals race.
Asked if he is worried Sailor may look elsewhere for an opportunity, Walters said: “No. That’s in the future. You are looking too far ahead. We are one week at a time here at the Broncos.
“We are focused on the Dragons and Tristan is playing for the Broncos.
“Tristan needs to play well for us.
“He brings great knowledge of the game to our spine and is a terrific player.
“We have seen that from him in the past and we need to see that again from him (against the Dragons).
“It is a wonderful opportunity for him to showcase his skills.
“I know he likes the big stage … well, there is the big stage young fella.”
STORM TO HOLD TALKS WITH NAS AFTER CRYPTIC POST
Melbourne officials are set to hold clear-the-air talks with forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona next week after he posted a cryptic message on social media appearing to suggest his time at the Storm may be coming to an end.
Asofa-Solomona has three years remaining on his big-money deal with Melbourne but has spent most of this season coming off the interchange bench amid talk that he has lost the support of some of the key figures at the Storm.
Talk of a potential departure will only heighten after Asofa-Solomona made a post with the caption: “All good things must come to an end, enjoy the moments while they last”.
The post included a collection of 10 images which were both football and non-football related. In one image, he is seen embracing former Storm teammate Justin Olam following their clash at Leichhardt Oval last Saturday.
Another shows image shows Asofa-Solomona dripping with blood following a cut above his eye.
Asofa-Solomona’s future has been a point of interest in recent months amid the Storm’s pursuit of Wests Tigers forward Stefano Utoikamanu.
The Tigers were among the clubs monitoring his form and fitness as they pondered a move for the New Zealand international.
It is understood Asofa-Solomona recently indicated he wanted to stay at the Storm and fight his way back, but Melbourne’s pursuit of Utoikamanu is expected to come at a cost.
Certainly if Asofa-Solomona’s social media is anything to go by.
The post raised some concerns with Storm officials, who are planning to hold talks with their forward powerhouse when he returns to training.
The players have been given time off because Melbourne has the bye this week.
The 28-year-old has played 195 games for the Storm since joining the Storm as a 15-year-old out of school in New Zealand.
He made his first grade debut in 2015 and his Test debut for New Zealand two years later.
But he has struggled to recapture his best form over the past two seasons, prompting talk that the club could let him leave if he found an alternative home.
At the same time, Melbourne have begun speaking to Utoikamanu as he explores his options for next season.
The Tigers prop and his partner met coach Craig Bellamy and head of football Frank Ponissi last weekend after the two sides played and it is understood further talks could take place with chair and majority owner Matt Tripp.
With Canberra and St George Illawarra ruling out a move for Utoikamanu, the Storm appear to be the greatest threat to the Tigers’ hopes of holding onto their star prop.
However, it is understood talks between Utoikamanu and Tigers powerbrokers have gone well and the club is quietly optimistic he will stay for at least one more season and give them a chance to prove that they are heading in the right direction under chief executive Shane Richardson and coach Benji Marshall.
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