The Stefano Utoikamanu call Benji Marshall must make as Wests Tigers confirm forward's exit
The prop is set to leave the club at the end of the NRL season.
OPINION
Stefano Utoikamanu's departure from Wests Tigers is either a huge slap in the face to a directionless NRL club or a blessing in disguise. It all depends on where you sit. To paraphrase a line from ex-Tigers coach Ivan Cleary, the club invited Utoikamanu aboard the Benji Marshall rebuild bus but the one-time NSW prop decided he prefers a different destination.
It now appears a race in two between Canterbury and Melbourne for his signature. The Tigers' official response to Stefano Utoikamanu's departure says a lot about their thoughts on the situation. The 33-word 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." There was no explanation to fans on the whys, hows or ins and outs. This is a young front-rower who's just turned down $800,000 after being talked up as the future of the club.
The Tigers' reaction was cold, clinical and calculated. You don’t want to be part of the Benji revolution, so be it. Just don’t expect us to mourn your loss. If the Tigers are serious about sending an even stronger message, Marshall needs to punt Utoikamanu to NSW Cup for the rest of the season.
Stefano Utoikamanu will depart the club at the end of the 2024 season - https://t.co/zCxlotPK20
— Wests Tigers (@WestsTigers) July 28, 2024
Stefano Utoikamanu becomes the latest Tiger to jump ship
Why put more NRL games under his belt to help his next club? On the surface, it's been a bad week for the coach. John Bateman has departed for the Super League, taking up a short-term deal at Warrington which could become permanent.
Now Utoikamanu has basically said he doesn't see the Tigers becoming a viable finals proposition under Marshall. Earlier, Isaiah Papali'i and Jake Simpkin were deemed surplus to needs and have either left (Simpkin) or will do at the end of the year (Papali'i).
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That's on top of Tommy Talau, Luke Brooks, Daine Laurie exiting last year and kicking on at new clubs. But is it as bad as it seems in Tigertown? Not quite. Bateman had been playing like a busted arse and was reportedly blueing with Benji.
Big Stefano's game fell away dramatically as he weighed up his future. His impact in recent games has been negligible. Panthers stars Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva are on their way to Concord in 2025 and suddenly the Tigers will have around $2m to play with to target more new faces over the off-season.
Middle forwards are a must - Newcastle's Saifiti brothers have already been thrown up as potential targets – along with outside backs. Players will become available as clubs massage their rosters to smooth out any kinks in the salary cap.
NRL rookies Fonua Pole, Sione Fainu, Lachlan Gavin and Jahream Bula provide further evidence there is a future at the Tigers. Marshall just has to do a better job selling the dream to the non-believers.
