Tonga coach Kristian Woolf says he suspects Stefano Utoikamanu has realized a lesson from his fiery grand final week sledge in a defence of the Storm prop forward of his debut for the Mate Ma’a.
Utoikamanu featured in two Assessments for Samoa in 2023 however the Melbourne front-rower has since switched his allegiance to Tonga.
He was on Tuesday named in a 21-man Tonga squad for the Pacific Championships, starting on October 18 and concluding with the ultimate on November 9.
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Utoikamanu enflamed grand last week when, with out naming names, he labelled some Broncos gamers “caught up”.
Going by the antics of Clive Churchill Medal winner Reece Walsh within the wake of Brisbane’s grand last victory over Melbourne, the Broncos clearly used Utoikamanu’s sledge as a supply of motivation for Sunday night time’s decider.
Stefano Utoikamanu is tackled by Payne Haas through the 2025 NRL grand last. Getty
Prodded on the sledge in an interview with 9News, Woolf replied with a smile.
“I listened to that interview and I assumed possibly he may have chosen his phrases a bit of bit higher,” Woolf stated.
“I am certain he is realized from that.
“He is a extremely good man, he is very humble, he is really actually quiet, and he’ll match into our camp very nicely.”
Utoikamanu is eligible to signify Tonga by his father, or Samoa by his mom.
The 25-year-old may have modified his allegiance to New Zealand, his nation of delivery, however doing so would have dashed the NSW prop’s State of Origin eligibility.
He grew up in Sydney’s west the place he performed in Parramatta’s junior system, additionally making him eligible for Australia.
Utoikamanu will once more sq. off with grand last nemesis Payne Haas when Tonga meets Samoa, after Haas defected from Australia to honour his mother’s heritage.
Woolf named three Tonga debutants in his squad in Utoikamanu, Roosters centre Robert Toia, and Warriors back-rowers Leka Halasima and Demetric Vaimauga.
The collection of Toia follows a breakout season wherein he earned a shock Queensland State of Origin call-up and claimed the Dally M Rookie of the 12 months gong.
“He was fairly emotional once I rang him,” Woolf stated.
“You might inform right away there was bits of silence and a little bit of emotion in his voice.
“What he did in Origin — I assumed he was excellent. I assumed he simply acquired higher and higher with each recreation.”
Tonga will open its Pacific Championships marketing campaign in opposition to Samoa at Suncorp Stadium on October 26.
North Queensland celebrity Jason Taumalolo and Cronulla powerhouse Addin Fonua-Blake will co-captain Tonga.
