‘We’d welcome him with open arms’: Bulldogs well and truly in the mix to sign Stefano Utoikamanu to add size to their mobile pack

Canterbury’s forwards have punched above their weight all season, but signing a powerhouse prop could make them genuine premiership contenders in 2025.

The Bulldogs are now one of the leading contenders to sign Stefano Utoikamanu. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo says he’s “monitoring the situation” with Stefano Utoikamanu following reports the Bulldogs have been linked with the Wests Tigers prop who is expected to make a decision on his future as early as next week.

Utoikamanu has been strongly linked with a move to the Storm, but reports this week suggest the Bulldogs have made a late bid to poach the hulking prop who has been offered a five-year deal worth $4m to stay with the Tigers.

The Bulldogs have already signed Roosters forward Sitili Tupouniua for the next four seasons and have room in their cap to add a big man like Utoikamanu, who could complement their mobile pack that has outworked opposition teams on effort, ball movement and with their superior fitness.

The Bulldogs have entered the race to sign prop forward Stefano Utoikamanu for 2025. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

“I think we’re in a really good position as a club where we’ve got a lot of good kids coming through and we’ve also got space for potential guys to come in if they’re the right person and right fit for our club,” Ciraldo said.

“Stefano is a really good player. He’s got a lot of potential and we’re monitoring that situation. If he’d like to come here then we’d welcome him with open arms.

“We’re really happy with the people that we’ve got here. We’ve added Sitili for next year and a lot of our guys are developing.

“No one is at their potential yet. All our guys are still getting better every day, and every season they play they’ll get even better.

“If we do add a guy like Stefano then that’s great, but if not, I’m really happy with who we’ve got here.”

Josh Addo-Carr could be back from injury as early as next week. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

The current crop of Canterbury players has done an excellent job in 2024 to sit in sixth spot despite going down to the Cowboys in a thriller last week.

They will be without winger Josh Addo-Carr for one more week as the speedster continues to recover from a serious hamstring tear that has kept him out since round 13, but Ciraldo is excited about the challenge this week as they travel to Brisbane to take on the desperate Broncos who snapped their losing streak in Newcastle.

The Bulldogs are four points clear of last year’s grand finalists and could go a long way to ending their finals drought if they can get the job done on Saturday.

“I think every week has been a really good challenge for us,” Ciraldo said.

“We’re playing a lot of teams’ best games, and we’re putting ourselves in pressure moments and walking towards that. I’m really happy with how they’re responding to that.

“It’ll be no different this week. It’s a big game, but they’re all big games.”