Overview

• Stefano Utoikamanu has been recalled to the NSW Blues squad for Game II in Perth after Mitchell Barnett suffered an ACL injury.
• The 25-year-old prop will come off the bench in a front-row rotation alongside Payne Haas, Max King and Spencer Leniu.
• Utoikamanu credits his move to the Melbourne Storm and Craig Bellamy’s system for boosting his form and securing his recall.
• He aims to overcome his 2023 debut, which lasted just over 12 minutes, by arriving mentally prepared to make an immediate impact.
• Ahead of kick-off, Utoikamanu warned Maroons captain Cameron Munster that he wants the restart directed at him so he can run him down.