The Wests Tigers have tabled a long term to deal to Stefano Utoikamanu worth up to $4 million but the big front rower is set to test his worth on the open market.
Brent Read elaborated on the situation between Stefano and the Tigers on Triple M’s Monday Scrum.
“They’ve now tabled an offer to Stefano, Richo[Shane Richardson} was expected to do it before he went overseas but he didn’t get it done before he went. He’s now made that offer to Stefano it’s a 5 year deal worth an estimated $4 million.” said Read
“I don’t think he’ll take it to be honest, I think Stefano’s plan was to go to market. I’d be stunned if he took it up.”
Utoikamanu has a strange clause in his current deal that allows him to walk away from the Tigers at the end of the season if certain conditions aren’t met.
“If he misses the New South Wales team for Game 2 then the clause that says he’s locked in to the Tigers for 2025 is effectively dead because he needed to play two more Origin games for that clause to come into effect.”
“The other way he would stay is if the Tigers made the top 8, I think we can all acknowledge right now that it’s highly unlikely that the Tigers make the top 8.
“I imagine Stefano will still go to market, it’ll be a thanks but no thanks!”
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