‘Winning games by 50 is not going to help us': Storm begins brutal finals preparation with grand final rematch against Panthers
The Panthers beat Melbourne in last year's decider and have won nine matches in a row to go from last spot after 12 rounds into the top four on the back of last week's thumping win in Newcastle.
Thursday's game is the start of a brutal month for the Storm who then face the Bulldogs (third), Roosters (ninth) and finish with a trip north to take on the Broncos (sixth) as they look to secure a top-two finish.
They've already beaten Penrith this year and knocked them off twice in the 2024 regular season, with stiff competition in August set to be the perfect preparation for them in the finals.
'I wasn't here last year, but a lot of the boys here played in the grand final,' Utoikamanu said.
'Penrith didn't really start the year that well, but I think they've won nine straight now so you can see them as the in-form team of the comp, so it's going to be a good game this week.
'For us, the finals aren't far away. Those four teams (that we're playing) are all going to be in the finals probably, so it's definitely a good preparation. I'd rather this (than winning by 50).
'Finals footy is a different game. I haven't even played in the finals before, but speaking to the other boys, it's probably going to be reffed a little differently and I think it's going to be more of a grind.
'Winning games by 50 is not going to help us, so these next few games is good preparation for us.'
The Storm will be without injured halfback Jahrome Hughes, but their defence has lifted with him out of the side, with the premiership favourites conceding just 12 points in their past two outings.
Utoikamanu has also lifted since he played the final two State of Origin games for NSW, with coach Craig Bellamy praising his impact through the middle in wins over the Eels and Broncos.
'I've felt like I probably had to step up a little bit, especially coming out of Origin and being an Origin player,' the prop said.
'It still feels a bit surreal to me that I played Origin this year, but coming out of that, I feel like I had to prove something a little bit.
'Coming here has probably been the biggest move of my career so far.
'Craig always tells us to play to our strengths, and I feel like I've been doing that every week.'
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