Craig Bellamy has admitted Stefano Utoikamanu would be a “good fit” for the Melbourne Storm as the young Wests Tigers prop prepares to do battle with his potential future club.
One of the game’s greatest coaches has enjoyed success with former Tiger Shawn Blore this season – and would love the chance to work with Utoikamanu.
As he touched down in Sydney with the competition table-toppers ahead of Saturday’s clash against the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval, Bellamy told this masthead: “I think Stefano would be a good fit for any team.
“He’s a talented kid, big and strong, he certainly has a lot of talent, and looks like he’s got a good work ethic as well.
“He’s played Origin, he’s only young as well, so he’s got a lot of improvement.
“I know we’re playing him this weekend, but that’s in ‘Bunny’s’ [recruitment boss Paul Bunn’s] hands with what happens next [in terms of meeting him].
Stefano Utoikamanu stretches out at Wests Tigers’ training on Friday.Credit: Rhett Wyman
“He’s a local kid at the Tigers. That will make it harder for him to move. I think every team would love to have him – and we’re no different.”
Utoikamanu had clauses in his Tigers deal that allowed him to test the open market if he failed to play two Origin games this season, or the joint venture failed to reach the finals.
After being overlooked by the Blues for the first two Origin games, Utoikamanu was given the Tigers’ blessing to gauge the interest of other clubs.
The Tigers tabled a five-year $4m deal, and remain hopeful Utoikamanu will stay.
The young Tigers’prop is expected to meet with Melbourne officials this weekend.Credit: Rhett Wyman
St George Illawarra ruled themselves out of the race on Thursday, while Canberra confirmed they had followed suit on Friday.
Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly told this masthead Utoikamanu could yet remain at the Tigers next year in the hope a better deal will open up at one of the heavyweight Sydney clubs, including the Panthers. The 24-year-old and his partner want to be close to family.
The last time he played at Leichhardt, Utoikamanu said about his future beyond this season: “I love the Tigers, but it’s hard when we are struggling.”
The Storm are a premiership threat, which has huge appeal for Utoikamanu, who was first linked to the club over the summer.
Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy.Credit: Getty
There have since been several reports Melbourne’s Nelson Asofa-Solomona could join the Tigers to play under good friend Benji Marshall should Utoikamanu head south.
“At the end of the day, you want players to be happy,” said Bellamy, when asked about the Asofa-Solomona and Tigers’ speculation.
“Nelson hasn’t said anything to me. And I haven’t heard other people at our club come and say that Nelson has gone to see them. It hasn’t happened. I’m not sure where it comes from.”
Blore joined the Storm as part of an off-season swap deal with Justin Olam, and since become a regular starter in the back row.
Bellamy said one thing that surprised the club was how many minutes Blore was capable of playing.
Marshall confirmed Olam was due to return from a knee injury against the Storm.
Olam was named in the No. 22 jersey, still struggled to stretch out for most of Friday’s captain’s run, but expected to return to the centres with winger Luke Laulilii to drop out.
Meanwhile, Balmain junior Ryan Papenhuyzen is expected to return from a heel injury to play his first NRL game at Leichhardt.
Bellamy, however, said with the bye next weekend, he would take no chances with his No. 1 if he was sore.
“He’s been having injections [into the heel], but he ran today [Friday] as good as he’s run since he’s had this injury; but when that [painkiller] wears off, who knows – if he’s in any doubt or sore, we’ll pull him out,” Bellamy said.