Would Stefano Utoikamanu have been selected for State of Origin if he had stayed at the Wests Tigers?
Of course, it’s a hypothetical question. It’s also worth remembering that Utoikamanu made his NSW debut while at the Tigers, one of the few players to make the step up to interstate level from the joint-venture club.
However, his failure to make a second appearance for the Blues by the end of 2024 allowed him to activate a release that eventually led him to Melbourne.
After being an unused reserve in the opening game, a season-ending knee injury to Warriors forward Mitch Barnett has opened the door for Utoikamanu in game two.
The front-rower is too diplomatic to be drawn into speculation over whether his chance would have arisen if he was still a Tiger.
“It’s hard to say,” Utoikamanu said. “The Tigers are going better now than we were last year, so I wouldn’t know.”
Bavck in Blue: Stefano Utoikamanu.Credit: Sam Mooy
Maybe it’s a question better directed at Terrell May, whose contributions since shifting from Bondi Junction to Concord are, at least statistically, as good as any prop in the game. Regardless, Utoikamanu concedes joining the Storm – especially now that Melbourne mentor Craig Bellamy and footy boss Frank Ponissi are in NSW camp – didn’t hurt his chances of a Blues call-up.
“It was one of the things I looked at when I was going to leave the Wests Tigers,” he said. “I feel like the Melbourne Storm have such a good system and being in it now, I’m happy I made the move and happy to be here.”
Utoikamanu’s first stint for NSW, in game II of the 2023 series, was short and bittersweet. In all, it lasted just 12 minutes and 35 seconds – not quite enough time to make a real impact, nor retain his position.
“I’ve thought about that a lot,” he said. “I didn’t really get a real taste of getting in there. I played 12 or 15 minutes and it’s pretty hard coming off the bench, you’ve got to make an impact.
“If you don’t make an impact there’s not really any point you being out there. Coming off the bench you should be fresh and looking to give your team a bit of energy, especially in Origin. That’s a big role to have coming off the bench and that’s something I’ll be looking to do in this game.”
Utoikamanu feels he is in a better position to contribute during his second coming as a Blues player.
“I feel I’ve matured a little bit over the last two years,” he said. “Coming to the Melbourne Storm has helped me a fair bit in trying to get back into this arena. I’ve learned lessons before in that last game that I can take into this game …
“I’m happy I get another opportunity to go in there and show them what I can actually do. That first time I felt like I didn’t do what I needed to do. We lost that game so I’m happy I get to come back, be around this group and show everyone what I can do.”
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