Huddersfield Giants have added significant power to their pack by signing man mountain Antonio Kaufusi.
The 6ft 3in, 17st 6lb former Australia Test prop arrives on a two-year contract from Super League rivals London Broncos, where he earned a reputation as one of the biggest hitters in the competition.
The arrival of the 28-year-old will help ease the pressure on Giants starting props Eorl Crabtree and Craig Kopczak, who have worked overtime in 2013 following the enforced retirement of Stuart Fielden after nine games and Luke O’Donnell’s decision to return to Australia after just one game.
Despite international duo Fielden and O’Donnell not being replaced, Huddersfield still lifted the Super League Leaders’ Shield to secure a first top-of-the-table finish for 81 years.
And delighted Giants coach Paul Anderson is confident Kaufusi, who has one Kangaroos cap to his name and also represented Queensland at State of Origin level in 2007, will play a big role in making the Giants an even stronger force in 2014.
“Antonio brings a wealth of experience to the Giants. His pedigree is unbelievable,” said Anderson. “He’s played in an Australian NRL Grand Final (for Melbourne Storm in 2006), for Australia and in the State of Origin, and there is no higher level of rugby league in the world than State of Origin.
“We’ve never replaced Stuart Fielden or Luke O’Donnell and, along with Chris Bailey, who we announced earlier in the week, he’ll certainly add depth to our squad.
“When I spoke to Antonio I told him I want to see the form that made him a State of Origin player, and that definitely sparked something in him.
“He had a lot of options and it’s a credit to us and where we are at that he saw us as an attractive proposition.”
