Melbourne Storm prop Stefano Utoikamanu stirred controversy this week by labeling Broncos players as “stuck up,” a remark that has added tension as the NRL Grand Final approaches. Despite the inflammatory comment, Brisbane coach Michael Maguire remained unfazed when questioned about it during a press conference in Sydney on Thursday afternoon.
The day began with clear skies but quickly turned tumultuous as heavy clouds gathered, mirroring the brewing storm between the two teams. Yet, neither side seemed eager to escalate the situation sparked by Utoikamanu’s media conference on Monday.
“I’m going to make sure I set up this week to get that first kick of the game—there are going to be a lot of people I want to run at, a lot of people I don’t like on this team,” Utoikamanu declared. “I don’t want to name names, there are a lot of people I think are a bit stuck up. I’m pretty keen just to run out and do a job for our team.”
Reactions from the Rugby League Community
The comments quickly drew a response from Broncos great Corey Parker, who criticized Utoikamanu for not having achieved significant success in the game yet. Meanwhile, Storm coach Craig Bellamy expressed surprise at his player’s remarks, having previously praised Utoikamanu for his humility.
“I didn’t actually hear it, but I heard about it,” Bellamy said at a fan event in The Rocks. “I was surprised. I’ll leave it at that.”
Fans have embraced the pre-game drama, adding an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming match. However, Maguire insists that his players remain focused on their own performance rather than external distractions.
Broncos’ Focus and Motivation
“My players have got their own motivations,” Maguire stated confidently. “They’ve been very dialed in for the last couple of months, and we’ve really focused a lot more on ourselves than what goes on around us. This is why we are where we are.”
While it remains unclear whom Utoikamanu was specifically targeting, players like Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam have often been both praised and criticized for their “rock star mentality.” Broncos lock forward Pat Carrigan seemed unfazed by the comments, emphasizing the team’s unity and focus.
“To be honest, it doesn’t really bother me,” Carrigan said. “It’s all part of life. People are going to think and say whatever they want about you, but I love playing footy with these boys. We know that we’ve got a job to do and that’s about locking into our role and playing our brand of footy.”
Sydney: The Home of Rugby League
A sold-out crowd at Accor Stadium will witness whether Utoikamanu’s comments translate into on-field fireworks on Sunday night. Sydney has been confirmed as the host city for the NRL and NRLW Grand Finals for at least another year, following an announcement from the state government.
“NSW is the home of rugby league and Sydney is unquestionably the greatest rugby league city in the world, so there really is no better place to be hosting the NRL’s showpiece event,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said.
The finals series has attracted record crowds and millions of viewers, with ARLC chairman Peter V’landys expressing excitement about Sydney’s continued role as host.
“The NRL Grand Final day is the most iconic event on our sporting calendar, drawing global attention and attracting tens of thousands of traveling fans into Sydney and NSW every year,” V’landys stated. “This year alone over 40,000 tickets, which is more than half the stadium, have been sold to interstate and international fans, providing a huge economic stimulus to the local economy and a $50 million plus return on investment to the NSW Government.”
As anticipation builds for the Grand Final, both teams are set to bring their best to the field, with fans eagerly awaiting the outcome of this highly charged encounter.
