Few things generate more discussion and excitement in rugby league world than rookie with more size than a lot of seasoned professionals.
At 191cm and 115kg, he's Parramatta's second largest player behind Junior Paulo. But at just 20 years of age, that size is unbelievable.
A Cabramatta junior, Utoikamanu has long been earmarked for bigger and better things.
At the age of 18 he made his NSW Cup debut for Wentworthville and at the age of 19 he moved into that squad full time.
He also represented NSW at Under 18s and Under 20s level, featuring as a dominant force in both those games and scoring a match winning try for the 18s.
He played 17 games in the reserve grade competition in 2019, racking up an impressive 604.8 post contact metres, 35 tackle busts and 455 tackles.
Utoikamanu was a dominant force in the lower grades due to his size, but his reserve grade performances were impressive given he faced grown men, some of whom played at NRL level.
Although signed for the Wests Tigers from 2021 onwards, Brad Arthur and the Eels did the right thing in refusing an early release, allowing them to upgrade him to the full time NRL squad and unleash him on the Knights this weekend.
If he is nervous about his NRL debut this week, he needn't look any further than the man who is currently the form prop in the competition and who fills out the Blue and Gold number 10 in Junior Paulo. The Eels wrecking ball himself debuted at the age of 19 way back in 2013.
Paulo has become one of Parramatta's biggest weapons and a key cog in the side's assault on the 2020 Premiership.
Utoikamanu is the latest in a growing list of Eels juniors that have come through to first grade under Brad Arthur including Marata Niukore, Oregon Kaufusi, Ray Stone, Dylan Brown and Reed Mahoney.
Stats:
Height: 191cm
Weight: 115kg
Eels number: 807
Born: Otahuhu, NZ
Reps: NSW Under 18s, NSW Under 20s
Contract: Full time 2020, Wests Tigers 2021 onwards
Replies
You are right SuperEel they could not afford him. Other two much cheaper. As you know I live in the area and fans thought he was their best player the year he left.
Why are we even stressing about a player with NO FG experience demanding massive $$s?
History shows us the players who chase the big money generally don't live up to expectations and fade away.
All the potential in the world plus $5.50 still only gets you a cup of take away coffee.
250K for an UNPROVEN player is OVERS imo.
Good on you Eels for not capitulating to an over inflated delusional misguided (probably by manager) player.
David Fifita 2.0 in the making.
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