From rattled to Origin return: Blues prop's wild month

Stefano Utoikamanu has revealed he was left rattled by Craig Bellamy's almighty Magic Round spray that had the potential to cost him a NSW State of Origin jersey.
Utoikamanu will play his first game back in blue on Wednesday night since his 2023 debut, after being called on to come off the bench for NSW at Optus Stadium.
The front-rower has made no secret of the fact that his move to Melbourne has helped him win back his spot, playing in an Origin-like system under Bellamy.
But it also could have hurt him dearly last month, after he cost the Storm victory at Magic Round against Canberra.
Bellamy's post-match criticism made headlines, after Utoikamanu was penalised for striking out with his boot after playing the ball as Melbourne set up for a field goal.
The Storm coach is an advisor to Laurie Daley in this year's Blues camp, while also assisting with selections.
"At the time, after the game, I was pretty rattled," Utoikamanu said of Bellamy's dressing down.
"I walked into the sheds and he started spraying me. He got into me a bit. But when you actually go back and look at it, it was probably a hard call.
"If I didn't put myself in that position in the first place we'd probably end up nearly winning that game.
"It was a bit tough but he spoke to me after the game and we had a good chat about it and it was sweet."
Melbourne lock Trent Loiero also felt the brunt of Bellamy's anger for conceding the match-deciding penalty, but has also since won a Queensland jersey.
Utoikamanu said his mind did not immediately go to Origin implications and he and Bellamy moved on quickly, with the prop keeping his spot for the following week.
"I just brushed it off after we spoke about how he actually looked at it and it probably was a pretty harsh call," Utoikamanu said.
"But there were a few things leading up to it that I could have helped stop."
NSW prepared for their shot at a second straight series win by having their first training session in Perth on Monday at HBF Park.
Western Australian royalty watched on, with cricket greats Justin Langer and Mike Hussey, Socceroos goalkeeper Liam Reddy and UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena watching on.
Utoikamanau's NSW return comes after he debuted for the Blues in Origin II in 2023 as a 23-year-old.
But the prop was then dropped for the next game, when the Blues took an eye to the future for the dead rubber in Sydney but went without the young front-rower.
"It was a bit confusing at the time, but they needed to win," Utoikamanu said.
"I want to be honest, I felt disappointed.
"But at the same time you need to look at the performance. I was only on there 12 minutes.
"As an impact player you need to get on there and try to make a difference. If I looked at myself honestly, I didn't do that."
Stefano Utoikamanu has revealed he was left rattled by Craig Bellamy's almighty Magic Round spray that had the potential to cost him a NSW State of Origin jersey.
Utoikamanu will play his first game back in blue on Wednesday night since his 2023 debut, after being called on to come off the bench for NSW at Optus Stadium.
The front-rower has made no secret of the fact that his move to Melbourne has helped him win back his spot, playing in an Origin-like system under Bellamy.
But it also could have hurt him dearly last month, after he cost the Storm victory at Magic Round against Canberra.
Bellamy's post-match criticism made headlines, after Utoikamanu was penalised for striking out with his boot after playing the ball as Melbourne set up for a field goal.
The Storm coach is an advisor to Laurie Daley in this year's Blues camp, while also assisting with selections.
"At the time, after the game, I was pretty rattled," Utoikamanu said of Bellamy's dressing down.
"I walked into the sheds and he started spraying me. He got into me a bit. But when you actually go back and look at it, it was probably a hard call.
"If I didn't put myself in that position in the first place we'd probably end up nearly winning that game.
"It was a bit tough but he spoke to me after the game and we had a good chat about it and it was sweet."
Melbourne lock Trent Loiero also felt the brunt of Bellamy's anger for conceding the match-deciding penalty, but has also since won a Queensland jersey.
Utoikamanu said his mind did not immediately go to Origin implications and he and Bellamy moved on quickly, with the prop keeping his spot for the following week.
"I just brushed it off after we spoke about how he actually looked at it and it probably was a pretty harsh call," Utoikamanu said.
"But there were a few things leading up to it that I could have helped stop."
NSW prepared for their shot at a second straight series win by having their first training session in Perth on Monday at HBF Park.
Western Australian royalty watched on, with cricket greats Justin Langer and Mike Hussey, Socceroos goalkeeper Liam Reddy and UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena watching on.
Utoikamanau's NSW return comes after he debuted for the Blues in Origin II in 2023 as a 23-year-old.
But the prop was then dropped for the next game, when the Blues took an eye to the future for the dead rubber in Sydney but went without the young front-rower.
"It was a bit confusing at the time, but they needed to win," Utoikamanu said.
"I want to be honest, I felt disappointed.
"But at the same time you need to look at the performance. I was only on there 12 minutes.
"As an impact player you need to get on there and try to make a difference. If I looked at myself honestly, I didn't do that."
Stefano Utoikamanu has revealed he was left rattled by Craig Bellamy's almighty Magic Round spray that had the potential to cost him a NSW State of Origin jersey.
Utoikamanu will play his first game back in blue on Wednesday night since his 2023 debut, after being called on to come off the bench for NSW at Optus Stadium.
The front-rower has made no secret of the fact that his move to Melbourne has helped him win back his spot, playing in an Origin-like system under Bellamy.
But it also could have hurt him dearly last month, after he cost the Storm victory at Magic Round against Canberra.
Bellamy's post-match criticism made headlines, after Utoikamanu was penalised for striking out with his boot after playing the ball as Melbourne set up for a field goal.
The Storm coach is an advisor to Laurie Daley in this year's Blues camp, while also assisting with selections.
"At the time, after the game, I was pretty rattled," Utoikamanu said of Bellamy's dressing down.
"I walked into the sheds and he started spraying me. He got into me a bit. But when you actually go back and look at it, it was probably a hard call.
"If I didn't put myself in that position in the first place we'd probably end up nearly winning that game.
"It was a bit tough but he spoke to me after the game and we had a good chat about it and it was sweet."
Melbourne lock Trent Loiero also felt the brunt of Bellamy's anger for conceding the match-deciding penalty, but has also since won a Queensland jersey.
Utoikamanu said his mind did not immediately go to Origin implications and he and Bellamy moved on quickly, with the prop keeping his spot for the following week.
"I just brushed it off after we spoke about how he actually looked at it and it probably was a pretty harsh call," Utoikamanu said.
"But there were a few things leading up to it that I could have helped stop."
NSW prepared for their shot at a second straight series win by having their first training session in Perth on Monday at HBF Park.
Western Australian royalty watched on, with cricket greats Justin Langer and Mike Hussey, Socceroos goalkeeper Liam Reddy and UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena watching on.
Utoikamanau's NSW return comes after he debuted for the Blues in Origin II in 2023 as a 23-year-old.
But the prop was then dropped for the next game, when the Blues took an eye to the future for the dead rubber in Sydney but went without the young front-rower.
"It was a bit confusing at the time, but they needed to win," Utoikamanu said.
"I want to be honest, I felt disappointed.
"But at the same time you need to look at the performance. I was only on there 12 minutes.
"As an impact player you need to get on there and try to make a difference. If I looked at myself honestly, I didn't do that."

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