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Storm signing feels big shift south has been vindicated
Melissa Woods, AAP • September 11th, 2025 8:01 am
Stefano Utoikamanu | Photo: AAP
For the past five years Stefano Utoikamanu has spent September on the beers, but the star Storm recruit couldn't be happier to push that back a month as he prepares to play his first NRL final.
Utoikamanu will be a key weapon as Melbourne look to defend their AAMI Park fortress on Friday night against Canterbury in their qualifying final.
After a season with Parramatta and then four years with Wests Tigers, the 25-year-old opted to shift his young family from Sydney to improve his football and to play finals, and has done both in his first season with the Storm.
"I was actually speaking to my missus before and some of the boys how this time last year I was probably out drinking with the boys, so that's something definitely a bit different," the prop told AAP.
"It's good to be on the flip-side, actually still playing and, yeah, I'm pretty excited just to go out there with the team."
Utoikamanu said it was a tough decision to get out of his comfort zone and leave his home and the Tigers, but after also earning another two NSW State of Origin caps felt it had paid off.
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"It wasn't the easiest thing to come here, but just looking at what a lot of players sacrifice when they do come here and the rewards they get, I feel like it was a big factor in me deciding to come here,'' he said.
"You look at this club and how much they've achieved and the coaches here, the culture here, it's pretty hard to say no.
"I feel like this was the best decision for me and my footy ... and looking back at it, I'd do it again."
Feeling for his suspended teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona, again rubbed out during finals, Utoikamanu said he didn't need to try to cover the loss of the Kiwi giant.
"My strength in my game is running the ball, it's a bit similar to him - he's a big body, I'm a big body - and it's unfortunate that 'NAS' isn't there as he does a lot for this team when he's at his best, but I feel like my game doesn't change," Utoikamanu said.
"I've just got to do what I do, and if I play to my strengths, that's just helping the team get better, and if everyone does that I feel like we can win the game."
The Storm only just held off a fast-finishing Bulldogs outfit in their round-25 clash, and Utoikamanu said to avoid a sudden-death semi-final they would need to shore up their defence, which has leaked 70 points in the past two matches.
"We definitely had a good review about our defence and it hasn't been up to scratch the last two weeks, but even before those two weeks we spoke about our second halves and how they've kind of blown out a little bit,'' Utoikamanu said.
"We might have won against the Dogs last time, but in the second half it wasn't good enough, and I think those are good learnings going into this week."
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