Matt Utai is set for a major positional change with Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore hinting that he could be used in roles away from the wing. Rleague.com understands that front-rower John Kite will be omitted from the five-man bench with Utai, who was named in the No.19 jumper in the 17 for Sunday's game against Cronulla. Kite will play for the Bankstown City Bulls in the NSW Cup match against Balmain Ryde Eastwood at the Terry Lamb Complex with kick-off at 4:45pm. There was talk around the traps during the off-season that Moore was thinking about moving Utai to the back-row as an impact interchange player after seven seasons on the wing at the Bulldogs. A reliable inside source on the Bulldogs Debate Page Blog confirmed that Utai would be moved to the forwards during the off-season and Rleague.com received confirmation from within the Bulldogs that Utai would be training with a view of playing on the wing or as an interchange player. Utai played the final 15 minutes of the Bulldogs first trial against the Dragons in the back-row and showed plenty of potential. Utai also played strongly on the wing that night, but a poor performance against Canberra the following week on the wing saw Utai demoted to the NSW Cup side with Hazem El Masri and Bryson Goodwin winning the wing positions with incumbent winger Heka Nanai recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. Joining Utai on the bench will be Yileen 'Buddy' Gordon, who will make his first appearance in the Bulldogs top grade after transferring from Souths. Gordon has been one of the best performers for Bankstown City at NSW Cup level and with Lee Te Maari being dropped for form related reasons originally Gordon won selection in the Bulldogs squad. The Bulldogs welcome back hard working front-rower Michael Hodgson for Sunday's game with Chris Armit moving back to the bench. Ben Barba was demoted to the NSW Cup prior to receiving a one-match ban for an off-field misdemeanour. Daryl Millard has been confirmed as the replacement for Jamal Idris in the centres, who has also been suspended for a week following the off field incident. Idris was originally named in the NRL side unlike Barba and Te Maari, who were named in the NSW Cup side. All three players won't be playing either grade at this stage whereas Willie Mason and Nate Myles will be playing for the Newtown Jets this weekend. One player named in the Bankstown NSW Cup side is Nick Kouparitsas, who tried to move to the Sydney Roosters mid-week with a dispute about finance keeping him at the Bulldogs. It's only 50-50 at this stage as to whether Kouparitsas will take his place in the Bankstown side tomorrow against Balmain Ryde Eastwood at the Terry Lamb Complex. Utai continues to be one of the most powerful and damaging runners in the game today, but his lack of height against other wingers has been his major weakness and now the game is about height on the flanks. His move to the back-row as an interchange replacement is a gamble by Moore and if successful could prolong Utai's career in the NRL. Former Australian, Queensland and Broncos Michael Hancock made a successful move from wing to an impact back-row replacement late in his career and played a key role off the bench in Brisbane's premiership success in 2000. Will Utai's likely switch to being an interchange impact back-rower be a success or failure?
This was realised before the season started. Utai doesn't have a future on the wing. Impact backrower is the only way. He'd make a good one too, I reckon. Maybe out of dummy half as well.
LOL they made such a big article about a relatively shitty player that could have been summed up with only the thread title.
I'd use him as a back rower for 20 mions to 10 mins left in a half then get him out of dummy half whenever a quick play the ball was apparent in the last 10 of each half Him gaining 15 to 20 m would be valuable
Matt Utai asked out my cousin when the Bulldogs were raping chicks in Coffs back in 2004 or whenever. She said no, good move.
Back in the day Utai used to tear up on the wing. If he could get back to his best strength wise he'd be very useful in the second row or even in the centres.
