Melbourne Storm enforcer Stefano Utoikamanu has called on his former Wests Tigers teammate and cousin Fonua Pole to make the same career move he did, swapping Sydney for the Storm.
A year on from leaving the Tigers, Utoikamanu has become one of Melbourne’s most influential forwards, helping steer the club through a standout 2025 Finals campaign before pledging his international allegiance to Tonga.
Now, he’s hoping Pole will follow his path back to Victoria, where the young forward’s rugby league journey first began.
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‘I’d love to see him come back’
Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, Utoikamanu didn’t hide his admiration for the 23-year-old forward and his wish to see family ties reunite in purple.
“Fonua Pole is from here [Melbourne], he has family here, and I'd love to see him come back,” Utoikamanu said. “He's such a good player and a good bloke.”
Pole, a product of the Victorian Thunderbirds system, came close to signing with the Storm in 2024 before opting to stay loyal to the Tigers on a two-year extension. His younger brother, Suli, currently plays in Melbourne’s Under-21s side, which recently lifted the Jersey Flegg Cup.
Reflecting earlier this year on his choice to remain at Concord, Pole told Zero Tackle:
“It was definitely on my mind because I definitely missed family coming over. It was a hard transition at first, but I think I've settled in and it's definitely a home for me. I've loved our Tigers. I'm always grateful for the opportunity they gave me, and I owe this club so much and I don't want to leave without repaying them.”