The Wests Tigers have snuck under the guard of Parramatta to steal one of the hottest young talents in the game on a three-year deal.
The Tigers have secured the services of hulking prop Stefano Utoikamanu from 2021 with one of the largest contracts for a player yet to make his NRL debut, understood to be worth around $800,000.
Parramatta were desperate to retain the 192cm, 115kg teenage sensation, who has drawn comparisons to Broncos sensation Payne Haas.
On the back of Ryan Matterson's defection to the Eels, the Tigers have managed to land the major coup and are also expected to sign Dragons forward Luciano Leilua in the coming days.
It is understood the Tigers, who are also the frontrunners for Latrell Mitchell, want the Australian Schoolboys representative to join the club immediately to play for them in the NRL in 2020.
However, the Eels earmarked Utoikamanu, who grew up playing against the likes of Haas and David Fifita, to make his debut in 2020 and now have a decision to make whether to keep him at the club or let him link with the Tigers immediately.
NRL.com understands Utoikamanu, who is on a development contract with the Eels and is no guarantee of being bumped up into the NRL squad, stands to earn almost triple the original offer the Eels put to him midway through the year.
The Eels raised their offer in recent weeks – and again on Thursday night in a desperate bid to hold on to him – however Utoikamanu had already reached a decision.
The strength of the Eels pack, with Junior Paulo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard starting up front, was also a factor – especially considering there are far fewer obstacles in front of him at the Tigers.
The Eels also have no shortage of depth in the front row, with NSW under 18s Origin front-rower Dave Hollis on their roster, as well as Sam Hughes, who was picked but missed the game due to suspension.
Tigers coach Michael Maguire is desperate to add some size and starch to his pack, and the signing of Utoikamanu, who represented the NSW under 20s last season, is sure to do that whenever he arrives at Concord.
Utoikamanu scored the match-winning try for NSW in a man-of-the-match performance in the under 18s Origin game last year, backing that up with 149 metres from 11 hit-ups for the Blues in the under 20s victory this year.
Replies
There will always be good players and parents coming through that will help our club grow more successfully. Behind quality skill sets, attitude is everything.
It's ok, we will buy him back for double the price or the same price in 4-5 year time. Parramatta has a track record of this. Jason Bell, Willie Tonga, David Penna, Mitchell Moses, Matterson, PJ Marsh, the list goes on.
That's fine, let everyone else pay for their development years, we'll take them for their peak years.
Good ridence we don’t me that fool, anouther Daveid woods
Pops i made more sense of reading the form after about 30 beers at the cricket. Shawny struggles unless it is from one of Lurkers on the money articles again.
Looks a tough day Pops, had a sneaky EW bet on the Lord Mayor at 14-1. Military Zone might be the overs in the Gong. But yeah looks a hard day.
Well there you go... If we got matterson for free just like when we got moses for free then you are in dreamland.
Brad Arthur and his staff have never won a deal when a player wants out.
We always pay the price.
Moses comes weeks later Twal is at the Panthers
Matterson Agrees and now we lose Stefano.
Can we see the pattern. Brad Arthur lets his best forwards go and buys them back at top dollar
Matterson, Paulo and Hayne Just three off the top of my head.
Why the fuck did we keep Gower Alvaro and let go of a kid who could help us cap wise. We probably offered him peanuts then when they told Parra to increase it they probably went up 50k and stopped.
I hope he doesnt become a superstar in 2-3 years. Not happy but he hasnt proved himself but he had rep honours and all we offered him was a Development Contract. Shaking my head that we didnt throw the Tigers 2 useless props that will never play NRL this year over a potential superstar with size.
Seriously, we got Moses and the tigers got Twal. Regardless of their current contract values, who really got the best end of that deal? You can't say the Tigers did.
While some of the others things you say might be correct, the point about Matterson I think is that regardless of whether he left and came back or not, he would be worth the same money now either way, and he has proven that he will walk from a club if he sees bigger dollars somewhere else, so he could have done exactly the same to us.
Hayne, really ????
If the player wants overs to re-sign when he's never played first grade just imagine how much he would want for his next contract after that one.
You never get any value out of players like this. By the time he's worth $300k he'll be demanding $500k. You can't win. Let clubs like the Tigers have them.
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