Storm gun has point to prove with Panthers on the prowl

Melissa Woods | August 11, 2025

Stefano Utoikamanu’s boost in form couldn’t have come at a better time with the Melbourne forward declaring next opponents Penrith the NRL’s form team heading into the finals.

The NRL heavyweights will have a grand final rematch on Thursday night at CommBank Stadium with the Panthers joining the second-placed Storm in the top four after thrashing Newcastle last round.

It was their ninth successive win, putting rivals on notice they are well up for a fifth straight title after their slow start to the season.

“I wasn’t here last year but a lot of boys played in that grand final and Penrith didn’t really start the year too well but they’ve won nine straight so you could see them as the in-form team of the comp – it’s going to be a pretty good game,” Utoikamanu said, with Melbourne overcoming Brisbane 22-2 last round.

“These next four weeks are a big stepping stone for us coming into the finals, we’re versing a lot of quality teams – the Broncs again, the Roosters and Dogs and Penrith so it’s good preparation for finals.

“I haven’t even played in the finals before but speaking to all the other boys, they’re probably going to be reffed a little bit different and I think it’s going to be more of a grind.

“Winning games by 50 or more, that’s probably not going to help us so these next coming games are definitely good preparation for us.”

Ex-Tigers prop Utoikamanu has hit his straps off the back of State of Origin, after playing plenty of minutes in the last two games of the series.

The 25-year-old, who received criticism in the NSW Blues’ loss, said he had a “point to prove”.

“I felt like I probably had to step up a little bit, especially coming out of Origin, being an Origin player, ” he said.

“Coming out of that, I felt like I had to prove something a little bit.

“I was pretty quiet in camp, but there’s a lot of quality players there.

“Even though we lost, I feel like the players that were in that team, they’re all at the top of their positions and just being around them and the energy they bring to the team, I felt like they rubbed off on me a little bit.

“Just having that confidence as no matter what anyone says, you’re there for a reason.”

Coming off a two-game suspension, Nelson Asofa-Solomona played Queensland Cup last round and Utoikamanu was unsure if he would be included against Penrith.

“If he does play, it’s a big in for us, I feel like ‘NAS’ is massive for us,” he said.

“I’m a big body, but he’s bigger than me and he has that presence on the field that intimidates other teams.

“I don’t know if he’s in or if he’s out, but if he’s in, I’m pretty excited.”