Players from rival clubs have backed Melbourne to finally end Penrith’s premiership reign and for one simple reason – the signing of Stefano Utoikamanu.
Captains and senior players from all 17 clubs gathered on a gloomy Monday morning in Sydney to launch the 2025 season, and this masthead asked each which rival club would win the competition if their own team fell short.
Eight players nominated the Storm, five said Penrith would make it five successive titles, three voted for the Broncos, and North Queensland captain Tom Dearden declared Manly the biggest danger.
The Storm lost the grand final to the Panthers, but the recruitment of Utoikamanu from the Wests Tigers over the summer could prove the difference, according to the players polled.
Broncos prop Payne Haas, who is regarded as the best front-rower in the game, said of 24-year-old front-rower Utoikamanu: “The Storm have a lot of talent, and now they’ve added Stefano in the middle. That’s what they needed. You need good front-rowers to win a comp, and they’ll turn him into a great front-rower. We’ve already seen the talent he has. I’m actually excited to see him play.”
Canberra’s Joe Tapine added: “I think Melbourne have bought well with Stefano. He’s a good player and will add to their forward pack. He helped hold that Tigers pack together at different times.”
Dolphins forward Kenny Bromwich and Penrith backrower Liam Martin both liked the look of Melbourne because of Utoikamanu, with Martin saying: “I’m tipping him to have a big year.”
Sydney Roosters skipper James Tedesco said of the Storm: “Melbourne probably have the best spine in the game. They’re all rep players, know how to win big games, and if ‘Paps’ [Ryan Papenhuyzen] stays healthy, they’ll give Penrith a run. It’s hard to go past Melbourne or Penrith.”
Melbourne skipper Harry Grant, who said Penrith were again the team he most feared, welcomed the other players’ opinions of the Storm and said Utoikamanu had enjoyed a summer to remember.
Eyes on the prize: Penrith’s Liam Martin checks out the Provan Summons Trophy on Monday.Credit: Steven Siewert/SMH
“You can see the way he goes about his business, he wants to earn everyone’s trust and respect, and buying into everything we’re doing, which has impressed me,” Grant said.
The Panthers have lost Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris, but somehow keep overcoming the loss of a couple of senior players each season. They did it last year after Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu departed, just as they coped with the earlier exits of stars Api Koroisau, Viliame Kikau, Matt Burton and Kurt Capewell.
“Even though they keep losing players, they find a way to keep winning,” said South Sydney skipper Cameron Murray.
Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses said: “How can you [not say them] when they’ve been to the past five grand finals?”
Michael Maguire’s move to Brisbane in the off-season will have the Broncos primed to bounce back after a disappointing 2024, according to Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga, St George Illawarra’s Clint Gutherson, and New Zealand Warriors’ utility Dylan Walker, who played under Maguire at Souths.
“They will get a bit of tough love from ‘Madge’ [Maguire],” Walker said.
“When I was a younger guy [in the NRL] and he came in, he showed me that tough love, and was all about getting on with your job and doing the hard work. I think a club like that will benefit a lot from someone like him. They’ll go close.”
Ponga added: “Brisbane face a bit of a redemption year after last year. I know a few of their boys, and they wouldn’t have been happy with how it all worked out. I’ve been in their position, and it does motivate you [to turn it around].”
