Antonio KAUFUSI [
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Thu August 21, 2008
by Matthew O'Neill
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.auMelbourne Storm front-rower Antonio Kaufusi has today penned a three-year deal with the North Queensland Cowboys, with the forward moving to Townsville for the start of the 2009 season.
Kaufusi, originally from Bundaberg, only had one year remaining on his current Storm contract and was given permission by the club to secure his future elsewhere.
"It was important to make sure my future beyond next year was sorted out as soon as possible, especially now that I have a young family," said Kaufusi.
"When the Cowboys showed an interest, it made sense that I signed with them considering I'm from Queensland and it's a little bit closer to home.
"While they've struggled a bit this year, the Cowboys have some great players and with a bit of luck I can enjoy as much success there as I have in Melbourne."
While disappointed to be losing Kaufusi to the Cowboys, Football Operations Manager Frank Ponissi conceded there were issues beyond the Storm's control which contributed to his departure.
"Due to salary cap restrictions over the next few years we weren't able to guarantee Antonio a long term deal past 2009," said Ponissi.
"Even though he had a contract here for next year, when he got the opportunity to go back to Queensland on a three year deal we couldn't stand in his way.
"He's been a great servant to the club and he's a quality player. He's achieved State of Origin and international honours since he's been here.
"Given he missed the 2007 grand final win, hopefully we can send him out on the ultimate high this year."
Since arriving in Melbourne in 2003, Kaufusi has developed into a State-of-Origin and international player having represented both Queensland and Australia.
After playing for the Kangaroos against Great Britain in the 2006 Tri-Nations Series, Kaufusi played in Game I of the 2007 Origin Series.
It was during this game that he suffered a ruptured patella tendon, an injury that kept him out for the remainder of the 2007 season and costing him a place in the grand final winning team.
"I've had the most amazing adventure since moving to Melbourne," said Kaufusi.
"Since being here I've married my partner Bree, we had our first daughter, and I've also gone on to play for both my state and country. These are memories that will stay with me forever.
"It would have been wonderful to have played in that 2007 grand final team but it wasn't to be unfortunately.
"Hopefully I can make amends for that this year before I leave."
News Source:
www.melbournestorm.com.auThu May 24, 2007
Source: www.melbournestorm.com.auMelbourne Storm front-rower Antonio Kaufusi has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2007 NRL season after rupturing the patella tendon in his right knee during last night's State-of-Origin clash in Brisbane.
Kaufusi will fly back to Melbourne today and have immediate surgery on his knee tonight.
News sent by:
www.melbournestorm.com.au
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 2008 World Club Challenge
Melbourne Storm
1 games; [View] WCC [29 Feb 08] L 4-11 v Leeds (A). [SR]
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2008 NRL Telstra Premiership
Melbourne Storm
25 games; [View] Round 3 [29 Mar 08] L 6-10 v Roosters (A). [PR]
[View] Round 4 [04 Apr 08] W 28-8 v Broncos (H). [PR]
[View] Round 5 [11 Apr 08] W 26-4 v Sea Eagles (H). [PR]
[View] Round 6 [21 Apr 08] W 23-16 v Raiders (A). [PR]
[View] Round 7 [26 Apr 08] W 12-10 v Cowboys (A). [PR]
[View] Round 9 [12 May 08] W 18-4 v Knights (H). [PR]
[View] Round 10 [17 May 08] L 12-36 v Dragons (A). [PR]
[View] Round 11 [24 May 08] W 15-10 v Rabbitohs (A). [PR]
[View] Round 12 [31 May 08] W 46-0 v Bulldogs (H). [BE]
[View] Round 13 [09 Jun 08] L 0-18 v Gold Coast (A). [SR]
[View] Round 16 [29 Jun 08] L 22-24 v Eels (A). [SR]
[View] Round 17 [06 Jul 08] W 30-14 v Raiders (H). [BE]
[View] Round 18 [14 Jul 08] W 30-18 v Tigers (A). [BE]
[View] Round 19 [21 Jul 08] W 26-0 v Dragons (H). [BE]
[View] Round 20 [27 Jul 08] L 6-8 v Warriors (A). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [01 Aug 08] W 44-4 v Gold Coast (H). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [08 Aug 08] W 16-10 v Sea Eagles (A). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [15 Aug 08] W 30-6 v Roosters (H). [BE]
[View] Round 24 [25 Aug 08] W 40-6 v Panthers (A). [BE]
[View] Round 25 [30 Aug 08] L 16-17 v Knights (A). [BE]
[View] Round 26 [07 Sep 08] W 42-4 v Rabbitohs (H). [BE]
[View] Finals Week 1 [14 Sep 08] L 15-18 v Warriors (H). [BE]
[View] Finals Week 2 [20 Sep 08] W 16-14 v Broncos (A). [BE]
[View] Finals Week 3 [26 Sep 08] W 28-0 v Sharks. [SR]
[View] Grand Final [05 Oct 08] L 0-40 v Sea Eagles. [BE]
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2007 State of Origin
Queensland Origin
1 games; [View] Origin [23 May 07] W 25-18 v NSW Origin (H). [BE]
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2007 NRL Telstra Premiership
Melbourne Storm
10 games; [View] Round 1 [16 Mar 07] W 18-16 v Tigers (H). [PR]
[View] Round 2 [24 Mar 07] W 32-16 v Raiders (A). [PR]
[View] Round 3 [01 Apr 07] W 30-12 v Warriors (H). [PR]
[View] Round 4 [07 Apr 07] W 22-12 v Knights (A). [SR]
[View] Round 5 [14 Apr 07] W 24-10 v Dragons (A). [PR]
[View] Round 6 [21 Apr 07] W 30-20 v Panthers (H). [SR]
[View] Round 7 [27 Apr 07] W 28-18 v Broncos (A). [PR]
[View] Round 8 [05 May 07] L 12-30 v Tigers (A). [PR]
[View] Round 9 [14 May 07] W 38-14 v Bulldogs (H). [PR]
[View] Round 10 [19 May 07] W 26-2 v Roosters (H). [PR]
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2006 Tri-Nations Test Series
Australia Kangaroos
1 games; [View] Tri-Nations Match 6 [18 Nov 06] W 33-10 v Great Britain (H). [BE]
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2006 NRL Telstra Premiership
Melbourne Storm
25 games; 4 tries, 16 points.
[View] Round 1 [12 Mar 06] W 22-16 v Warriors (A). [PR]
[View] Round 2 [19 Mar 06] W 22-18 v Roosters (A). [PR]
[View] Round 3 [25 Mar 06] L 8-40 v Cowboys (A). [PR]
[View] Round 7 [22 Apr 06] W 52-6 v Knights (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 8 [29 Apr 06] W 24-10 v Dragons (H). [BE]
[View] Round 9 [06 May 06] W 38-14 v Rabbitohs (A). [BE]
[View] Round 10 [13 May 06] W 18-6 v Cowboys (H). [SR]
[View] Round 11 [20 May 06] L 12-34 v Sea Eagles (A). [SR]
[View] Round 12 [28 May 06] W 17-16 v Panthers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 13 [03 Jun 06] W 20-16 v Roosters (H). [BE]
[View] Round 14 [11 Jun 06] W 34-22 v Eels (A). [SR]
[View] Round 15 [18 Jun 06] W 22-12 v Raiders (H). [BE]
[View] Round 16 [23 Jun 06] W 16-12 v Bulldogs (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 18 [07 Jul 06] W 10-4 v Broncos (H). [PR]
[View] Round 19 [16 Jul 06] W 24-16 v Knights (A). [PR]
[View] Round 20 [21 Jul 06] W 28-12 v Sharks (H). [PR]
[View] Round 21 [30 Jul 06] W 34-24 v Dragons (A). [PR]
[View] Round 22 [05 Aug 06] W 46-4 v Tigers (H). [PR]
[View] Round 23 [13 Aug 06] W 18-12 v Broncos (A). [PR]
[View] Round 24 [19 Aug 06] L 20-24 v Warriors (H). [PR]
[View] Round 25 [26 Aug 06] W 22-18 v Raiders (A). [PR]
[View] Round 26 [02 Sep 06] W 30-20 v Sea Eagles (H). [PR]
[View] Finals Week One [10 Sep 06] W 12-6 v Eels (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Finals Week Three [23 Sep 06] W 24-10 v Dragons. [PR] 4 Pts; 1t (77th)
[View] Grand Final [01 Oct 06] L 8-15 v Broncos (H). [PR]
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2005 NRL Telstra Premiership
Melbourne Storm
11 games; 2 tries, 8 points.
[View] Round 3 [27 Mar 05] L 18-25 v Sea Eagles (A). [BE]
[View] Round 4 [02 Apr 05] W 50-4 v Broncos (H). [BE]
[View] Round 6 [16 Apr 05] L 14-26 v Eels (H). [BE]
[View] Round 11 [21 May 05] L 16-26 v Bulldogs (H). [BE]
[View] Round 14 [12 Jun 05] L 16-24 v Warriors (A). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [06 Aug 05] L 16-40 v Sharks (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t (32nd)
[View] Round 23 [13 Aug 05] W 22-10 v Warriors (H). [BE]
[View] Round 25 [27 Aug 05] W 34-22 v Tigers (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t (65th)
[View] Round 26 [03 Sep 05] L 24-30 v Cowboys (A). [BE]
[View] Finals Week One [10 Sep 05] W 24-18 v Broncos (A). [BE]
[View] Finals Week Two [17 Sep 05] L 16-24 v Cowboys. [BE]
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Kaufusi, Antonio
