Melbourne Storm enforcer Stefano Utoikamanu is set to take on the Canterbury Bulldogs on Friday night at AAMI Park in his first ever finals campaign.
The former Wests Tigers prop was on the receiving end of three-straight wooden spoons at the club before switching to the Victorian capital.
It had been rumoured earlier in the year that Utoikamanu was struggling in his new city and missing home.
“It wasn’t the easiest thing to come here, but just looking at what a lot of players sacrifice when they do come here and the rewards they get, I feel like it was a big factor in me deciding to come here,” he told AAP.
“You look at this club and how much they’ve achieved and the coaches here, the culture here, it’s pretty hard to say no.
“I feel like this was the best decision for me and my footy and looking back at it, I’d do it again.”
A victory would see the Storm host a preliminary final in Week Three of the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Canberra Raiders star Tom Starling has revealed just how laser-focused the Green Machine are ahead of the finals.
Starling told Adam Hawse on 2GB’s Wide World of Sports that he is thinking of grand final glory, “Every moment I’m awake.”
