“He [Cleary] has been at the top of his game for the past few years now, so when you get the chance to play with someone like that, it is exciting.”
Tigers’ prop Utoikamanu had Canterbury and Melbourne chasing him before he opted for a three-year deal with the latter. It took just one meeting with Bellamy, Utoikamanu said, to convince him to head south.
“It was kind of a no-brainer when you meet a coach like that – you see he gets the best out of players,” Utoikamanu said.
Stefano Utoikamanu says one meeting with Storm coach Craig Bellamy was enough to convince him to head to Melbourne.Credit: Getty
“I feel like I still have a lot more to offer, and that is the thing I am most excited about – I want to get the best out of myself.
“I was up and down this year. It didn’t help having to talk about my contract during the year. I wanted to get it done at the start of the year.
“They already have a mad team there [Melbourne], and adding me, I’ll only become a better player going there.
Loading
“I probably haven’t trained the way they’ve trained. I think I’ll love it there, and I think I’ll be good.”
Utoikamanu was impressed by the Bulldogs’ sales pitch, knew a few players and liked coach Cameron Ciraldo, but he said the move to the Victorian capital would “get me out of my comfort zone”.
The 24-year-old is expected to opt out of playing end-of-season internationals for Samoa so he can report for day one of pre-season.
NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.