The off-season switch that helped Utoikamanu earn NSW recall

Westpac NSW Blues forward Stefano Utoikamanu has credited his move to the Melbourne Storm for helping unlock the form that has earned him a State of Origin recall. 

The prop was called into the side for Game Two after Mitchell Barnett suffered a torn ACL, with Utoikamanu preparing to play his second game for the Blues. 

The forward shocked plenty when he opted to depart the Wests Tigers in the off-season to move to Melbourne and he said a desire to return to the Origin arena played a key role in his decision. 

"It was one of the things I looked at when I was going to leave the Wests Tigers," Utoikamanu said. "I feel like the Melbourne Storm have such a good system and being in it now, I’m happy I made the move and happy to be here.

"There’s a system there that’s made a lot of players get better. A lot of players go there and become better, there’s a lot of teams you can’t say that. Melbourne’s one of those teams that when you go there you have to do the hard work but when you do the hard work, you’re going to become a better player."

Utoikamanu's NSW debut was a bittersweet experience for the youngster, with the then-23-year-old playing just 12 minutes off the bench in a 32-6 loss, with Queensland securing the shield in the process. 

Looking back, the prop concedes he was overawed by the occasion amid a tough series for the Blues. 

Utoikamanu was dropped for Game Three and has had to wait two years for the chance to make amends.

"I’ve thought about that a lot," he said. "I didn’t really get a real taste of getting in there. I played 12 minutes and it’s pretty hard coming off the bench, you’ve got to make an impact. If you don’t make an impact there’s not really any point you being out there.

"Coming off the bench you should be fresh and looking to give your team a bit of energy, especially in Origin. That’s a big role to have coming off the bench and that’s something I’ll be looking to do in this game.

"I’m happy I get another opportunity to go in there and show them what I can actually do. That first time I felt like I didn’t do what I needed to do. We lost that game so I’m happy I get to come back, be around this group and show everyone what I can do."

Utoikamanu has been named on the NSW bench alongside firebrand forward Spencer Leniu, with the duo determined to inject plenty of energy and intensity when they enter the field.