NRL 2024: Star prop Stefano Utoikamanu quits Wests Tigers, Storm and Bulldogs in box seat for signature

The Wests Tigers have fired a parting shot at Stefano Utoikamanu amid the shock development that the former NSW prop sacrificed up to $1m in a bid to win a premiership.

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

Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu has sacrificed up to $1m to win a premiership.

The shock development comes as Wests Tigers fired a parting shot at Utoikamanu, who is wrestling between Melbourne and Canterbury, Phil Gould and Craig Bellamy along with family and football.

Utoikamanu, 24, formally quit West Tigers on Monday while considering whether to join the Bellamy’s Storm or Gould’s Bulldogs.

Well-placed sources indicate Utoikamanu is keen to be coached by Bellamy but the giant forward’s partner, Chiara Ross, has expressed a desire to remain living near family and friends in Sydney.

This masthead can reveal Wests Tigers offered Utoikamanu $800,000 a year over five seasons with Canterbury and Melbourne lodging inferior offers of around $700,000 a season.

St George Illawarra and Canberra, who initially chased Utoikamanu, were preparing to offer up to $900,000 a year.

With future earnings, Utoikamanu could have pocketed an extra $1m but has chosen to only consider powerhouse Melbourne and rising force Canterbury.

Friends claim Utoikamanu isn’t driven by money but wants to play for a successful club. He approached the Roosters twice but couldn’t strike a deal.

It comes as Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson gave Utoikamanu a veiled whack at the forward’s failure to stay and help the club fight from the premiership cellar.

“Stefano has made a decision, one that he feels is the best for him and his family,” Richardson said. “We want people that are in for the fight.”

Utoikamanu admires the successful Melbourne system and is understood to have been impressed by Bellamy’s pitch.

Stefano Utoikamanu has the choice between the Storm and Bulldogs.

The former NSW prop has also watched enviously as close mates and former Wests Tigers players Luke Brooks (Manly), Daine Laurie (Penrith) and Luke Garner (Penrith) have kicked-on and enjoyed their football at rival clubs.

Canterbury believe they can secure the best from Utoikamanu, who has to decide where he wants to plays football and where he and his young family want to live.

There has been some discussion at Canterbury over how much Utoikamanu is worth but the final offer will reach $700,000 a year.

Utoikamanu will have the unenviable task of having to choose between the influence and power of Bellamy and Gould.

It’s a two-team race for Utoikamanu, who initially wanted to tell Richardson of his decision to leave the club before now focusing on his future. Utoikamanu’s family has a strong support system in Sydney.

Shane Richardson made a thinly veiled statement on the situation. Picture: NRL Photos

One key source close to the negotiations said: “It really is 50/50 between the Storm and Bulldogs.”

Utoikamanu had a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave should Wests Tigers fail to play in the finals or he did not play three State of Origin games for NSW.

The Wests Tigers statement read: “Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu has decided to leave the club at the end of the 2024 NRL season. Wests Tigers wish Stefano and his family the very best with their future endeavours.”

Utoikamanu will join Isaiah Papali’i as forwards to leave Wests Tigers after this season with doubts also lingering over whether John Bateman will return from a stint with Warrington in England.

The potential loss of three key forwards is a blow to new Wests Tigers’ 2025 playmaker, Jarome Luai. Utoikamanu will complete this season at Wests Tigers.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Star prop Stefano Utoikamanu quits Wests Tigers, Storm and Bulldogs in box seat for signature