In-demand front-rower Stefano Utoikamanu has assured Tigers fans he won’t leave the club before the end of the season. Beyond that? He’s not so sure.
Stefano Utoikamanu has assured Wests Tigers fans he won’t exit the club before the end of the season – but admits he’s unsure if he will remain at Concord beyond that.
The Tigers’ hopes of retaining Utoikamanu were dealt a blow at the start of the week when he was again overlooked by Blues coach Michael Maguire. Utoikamanu needed to play at least two Origin games this year to activate a clause in his contract that would keep him at the club. While the Tigers remain a mathematical chance of playing September football, rival clubs cannot negotiate with the player. The Tigers have already tabled Utoikamanu aThere were suggestions Utoikamanu would push for a release before the June 30 transfer deadline, which would allow him to move to a club in premiership contention and give the Tigers a better chance of signing a quality player in exchange.But Utoikamanu torpedoed any talk of him cutting and running early.
Sources with knowledge of Utoikamanu’s contract negotiations not authorised to speak publicly told this masthead the Raiders were ready to negotiate as soon as he became a free agent. Utoikamanu is seen as an ideal replacement for Josh Papalii, who finishes up at the end of 2025.The Roosters, who lose Jared Waerea-Hargreaves at season’s end; Melbourne Storm, who were linked to Utoikamanu over the summer; and the Dolphins, about to farewell Jesse Bromwich, are also monitoring the situation.
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