Antonio Kaufusi

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Antonio Kaufusi
fullname = Antonio Kaufusi

---

caption =
country =
position = Prop / Second row
currentclub = leagueicon|Melbourne|16 Melbourne Storm
dateofbirth = birth date and age|df=yes|1984|11|27
placeofbirth = 0
countryofbirth = Tonga
height = convert|190|cm|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|114|kg|stlb|abbr=on
club1 = leagueicon|Melbourne|16 Melbourne
year1start = 2003
year1end = present
appearances1 = 73
tries1 = 6
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 24
teamA = leagueicon|Australia|16 Australia
yearAstart = 2006
yearAend =
appearancesA = 1
triesA = 0
goalsA = 0
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 0
teamB = leagueicon|Queensland|16 Queensland
yearBstart = 2007
yearBend =
appearancesB = 1
triesB = 0
goalsB = 0
fieldgoalsB = 0
pointsB = 0
updated = 25 August 2008
source = [http://203.166.101.37/NRL08/playercareer.asp?lplayer=440179 NRL Stats]

Antonio Kaufusi (born 27 November 1984 in Tonga) is an Australian rugby league player currently playing for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League competition.

On August 21 2008 it was announced that Kaufusi had signed a three year deal with the North Queensland Cowboys, beginning in 2009.cite web|url=http://www.nrllive.com.au/2009-nrl-player-movements/|title=2009 NRL Player Movements|publisher=NRL Live|date=2008-10-04|accessdate=2008-10-04] [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,24218408-14823,00.html]

He made his first-grade debut against the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2003. His position of choice is prop. He is quickly growing into a popular player, due to his aggressive running style and ability to break through tackles with his rampaging runs. Antonio Kaufusi is also being hailed as a future Queensland representative prop. He played his first Grand Final in 2006, as the Storm went down to the Broncos 15-8. Kaufusi has recently been called up to the Australian tri-nations squad after Reni Maitua received an ankle injury in the first test against New Zealand, and recently broke into the Queensland state rugby league team.

He has been named in the Tonga training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12196_3935853,00.html|title=Tug-of-war over Mason|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2008-08-05|accessdate=2008-08-06]

He played in the 2008 NRL Grand Final defeat to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24449388-23214,00.html|title=Grand final: As it happened|publisher=Fox Sports|date=2008-10-05|accessdate=2008-10-05]

He has been named in the Tonga squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7658506.stm|title=Samoa, Tonga and Fiji name squads|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-08|accessdate=2008-10-09]

Career highlights

*"Junior Club:" Brothers (Bundaberg)
*"First XV Undefeated Premiership:" Nudgee College (Brisbane) 2002
*"First Grade Debut:" Round 22, Melbourne v Bulldogs at Sydney Showground, August 10, 2003
*"State of Origin Debut:" Game Two, Series 2007 for Queensland

References

External links

* [http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/default.asp?sec=2&ssec=2&pid=2&prid=1&yr=2005 Antonio Kaufusi Official Player Profile]
* [http://nrl.com/Clubs/Storm/Players/tabid/10308/default.aspx?id=190 Antonio Kaufusi NRL Player Profile]