Stefano Utoikamanu

Last updated

Stefano Utoikamanu
Stefano UTOIKAMANU.jpg
Personal information
Born (2000-05-15) 15 May 2000 (age 24)
Auckland, New Zealand
Height191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight115 kg (18 st 2 lb)
Playing information
Position Prop
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
2020 Parramatta Eels 30000
2021–24 Wests Tigers 75110044
2025– Melbourne Storm 00000
Total78110044
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
2023 New South Wales 10000
2023 Samoa 10000
Source: [1]
As of 6 September 2024

Stefano Utoikamanu (born 15 May 2000) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Contents

Background

Utoikamanu played his junior rugby league for the Cabramatta Two Blues. Utoikamanu played for Parramatta's under 20's team in 2018 and 2019, moving into ISP competition for Wentworthville. Utoikamanu also represented NSW under 18's and 20's teams in back to back years.[ citation needed ]utoikamanu is of Samoan descent.

Playing career

2020

On 29 January 2020, Utoikamanu signed a three-year deal with the Wests Tigers from 2021 worth $800,000 which was significantly higher than Parramatta's offer of $70,000 a season. [2]

Utoikamanu made his first grade debut in round 9 of the 2020 NRL season for Parramatta against the Newcastle Knights. He came off the bench in the final ten seconds of the game and made one hit-up as Parramatta won the match 10-4. Following the game, Utoikamanu was spotted hugging and interacting with fans which was strictly against player protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic. [3] [4]

2021

He made his club debut for the Wests Tigers in round 1 of the 2021 NRL season against Canberra which ended in a 12-30 defeat. He scored his first try in the NRL during round 3 of the competition as the club defeated Newcastle 24-20. On 5 July, he was called into the New South Wales squad for game 3 of the 2021 State of Origin series. He was named on the extended bench but did not feature in the match. [5]

He played a total of 22 games for the Wests Tigers in the 2021 NRL season as the club finished 13th and missed the finals. [6]

2022

On 31 January, he extended his existing contract that was until the end of 2023, for a further two seasons, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2025 season. On 29 March, it was announced that Utoikamanu would miss six to eight matches with an ankle injury which occurred during the club's loss to the New Zealand Warriors. [7] In round 9, he made his return to the side against Manly but was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul during the club's 36-22 loss at Brookvale Oval. [8] Utoikamanu played a total of nine games for the Wests Tigers club in the 2022 NRL season as they finished bottom of the table and claimed the Wooden Spoon for the first time. [9]

2023

On 22 May, Utoikamanu was selected by New South Wales as part of their extended squad ahead of game one in the 2023 State of Origin series. [10] On 12 June, Utoikamanu was named on the interchange bench for New South Wales in game two of the 2023 State of Origin series. [11] Utoikamanu played a total of 21 games for the Wests Tigers in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished with the Wooden Spoon for a second straight year. [12]

2024

On 29 July, Utoikamanu announced that he would be departing the Wests Tigers at the end of the season. [13] On 2 August, Utoikamanu signed a three-year deal to join Melbourne starting in 2025. [14] He played 24 games for the Wests Tigers throughout the 2024 NRL season as the club finished with the Wooden Spoon for a third consecutive year. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parramatta Eels</span> Australian rugby league football club

The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta that competes in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Jennings (rugby league)</span> Australia & Tonga international rugby league footballer

Michael Jennings is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL. He has played for Tonga and Australia at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Williams (rugby league)</span> Australia & Tonga international rugby league footballer

Tony Williams, also known by the nickname of "T-Rex", is a former professional rugby league footballer. He played for both Tonga and Australia at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Mannah</span> Lebanon international rugby league footballer

Tim Mannah is a former Lebanon international rugby league footballer who played as a prop for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Klemmer</span> Australia international rugby league footballer

David Klemmer is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League (NRL) and Australia international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junior Paulo (rugby league, born 1993)</span> Samoa international rugby league footballer

Junior Paulo is a Samoan international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Brown (rugby league, born 1993)</span> Italy international rugby league footballer

Nathan Brown is an Italian international rugby league footballer who plays as a lock for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clinton Gutherson</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Clinton Gutherson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains and plays fullback for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitchell Moses</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Mitchell Moses is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL). He also captained the Lebanon national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reagan Campbell-Gillard</span> Australia & Fiji international rugby league footballer

Reagan Campbell-Gillard, also known by the nickname "RCG", is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop forward for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League. He has also represented both Fiji and Australia at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Ofahengaue</span> Tonga international rugby league footballer

Joseph Anthony Young Ofahengaue is a Tonga international rugby league professional footballer who plays as a lock and prop for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaun Lane</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Shaun Lane is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as second-row forward for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Matterson</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Ryan Matterson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-rower or lock forward for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaiah Papali'i</span> New Zealand & Samoa international rugby league footballer

Isaiah Papali'i is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for both Samoa and New Zealand at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarome Luai</span> Samoan international & National Rugby League (NRL) rugby league footballer

Jarome Luai is a Samoan international rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL. He is a three time premiership winning player with the Panthers, and he has represented Samoa at test and 9's level, the NSW Blues in State of Origin and the Māori All Stars in the annual NRL All Stars match.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Allan</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Corey Allan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a wing, fullback and centre for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maika Sivo</span> Fiji international rugby league footballer (born 1993)

Maika Sivo is a Fijian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL) and Fiji at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reuben Garrick</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Reuben Garrick is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays as a centre or winger for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Naden</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Brent Naden is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre and winger for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawn Blore</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Shawn Blore is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has previously played for the Wests Tigers.

References

  1. Rugby League Project
  2. "Tug-of-war over teen giant intensifies after Eels reject Tigers release request". www.nrl.com. 29 November 2019.
  3. "Round 9 NRL team lists". NRL.com. 7 July 2020.
  4. "Eels rookie in hot water over potential breach". www.foxsports.com.au. 12 July 2020.
  5. Bruce, Jasper (5 July 2021). "NSW Blues announce two additions to squad for Origin III". News.com.au.
  6. Conrad, Alex (6 October 2021). "Wests Tigers fans savage the club's new-look logo". News.com.au.
  7. "Double Dogs blow as star enforcer out for the season; Bronco set for sideline stint: NRL Casualty Ward". www.foxsports.com.au.
  8. "North Queensland defeats Newcastle 36-16 for fourth straight NRL win as Sydney Roosters and Manly post victories". www.abc.net.au.
  9. "Canberra Raiders hand out 56-10 NRL drubbing to Wests Tigers as Cronulla beats Newcastle Knights 38-16". www.abc.net.au.
  10. "Graham ruled out for Blues, trio to debut as Fittler makes 'gamble'". www.nrl.com.
  11. "NSW Blues name State of Origin side for game two, with Mitchell Moses and Damien Cook in for Nathan Cleary and Api Koroisau". www.abc.net.au.
  12. "'Circus act' that summed up year from hell... and big call left for Benji: Wests Tigers Brutal Review". www.foxsports.com.au.
  13. "Stefano Utoikamanu tells Wests Tigers he will leave NRL club at end of season". www.abc.net.au.
  14. "Tigers enforcer snubs Bulldogs for Storm in shock NRL call". www.foxsports.com.au.
  15. "'Either the best or worst game all year': NRL world 'can't look away' from Spoon Bowl". www.foxsports.com.au.