Storm enforcer puts target on ‘stuck up’ Broncos
Shayne Hope |
Melbourne enforcer Stefano Utoikamanu has lit the fuse for an explosive NRL grand final, setting his sights on steamrolling “stuck-up” Brisbane opponents.
Utoikamanu shapes as a key weapon for the Storm as they seek to put last year’s pain behind them with victory in Sunday’s decider at Accor Stadium.
The 25-year-old, in his first season in Victoria after crossing from Wests Tigers, has taken over the role of chief strongman with teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona suspended.
And the man-mountain prop intends to intimidate the Broncos from the kick-off.
“I want to make sure this week I set up to get that first kick of the game,” Utoikamanu said.
“There’s going to be a lot of people I want to run at. There’s a lot of people I don’t like in this team.
“I’m keen to go out there and run someone over.
“I don’t want to name names but, yeah, there’s a lot of people I think are a bit stuck-up and I’m pretty keen just to run at and do a job for our team.”
Utoikamanu said the dislike for the Broncos runs deep through the Storm line-up, with the Melbourne club boasting a one-sided win-loss record of 43 wins from 59 matches.
Brisbane did however win their last battle, with a comprehensive 30-14 victory at Suncorp Stadium in round 27 earlier this month.
“I feel like that’s what a lot of our boys feel,” Utoikamanu said.
“But this week is probably just about us and our preparation
“If we prepare the best we can and everyone brings their strengths to the game, then we can win the game.”
Utoikamanu is one of the few changes to the Storm line-up since last year’s grand-final defeat to Penrith, admitting he was then jealous watching his soon-to-be teammates on the big stage.
After a season with Parramatta and four years with the Tigers, the decision to shift his young family from Sydney has been a success.
“I came here to play finals footy and to get back into the Origin arena, and I’ve done both of those,” Utoikamanu said.
“All the finals series games (last year), I was pretty jealous that all those boys got to play in those games.
“Those big games are where you find out how good of a player you actually are … so to be playing in them this year is pretty good.”
The NSW prop has relished playing under Craig Bellamy this season but hasn’t escaped the legendary Storm coach’s wrath.
Bellamy delivered a fearful spray after Utoikamanu was sin-binned for stomping on Canberra hooker Tom Starling in the play-the-ball during the Storm’s loss at Magic Round.
It was a wake-up call for Utoikamanu as he attempted to adjust at his new club.
“I copped a pretty big spray because I was probably being a bit dumb trying to kick Tom Starling,” Utoikamanu said.
“I feel like when you have someone like that who’s pretty honest about what you need to do on the field, it makes you want to get better.”
AAP
