Oregon Kaufusi

Oregon Kaufusi
Personal information
Full nameOregon Kaufusi
Born (1999-08-20) 20 August 1999 (age 25)
Auckland, New Zealand
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight114 kg (17 st 13 lb)
Playing information
PositionProp, Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2018–22 Parramatta Eels 71 3 0 0 12
2023– Cronulla Sharks 45 2 0 0 8
Total 116 5 0 0 20
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2022 Samoa 5 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 28 September 2024

Oregon Kaufusi (born 20 August 1999) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League.

He previously played for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL.

Background

Kaufusi was born in Auckland, New Zealand. And is of Tongan and Samoan descent.

Early career

Kaufusi went to Hills Sports High School and developed as a Parramatta junior, playing Harold Matthews and SG ball for the Eels. He represented NSW 16's, 18's and 20's, also Australian schoolboys.[citation needed]

Playing career

2018

In 2018, Kaufusi started the season in Jersey Flegg, before being promoted to Intrust Super Premiership playing for the Wentworthville Magpies. He played 12 games and scoring 2 tries. On August 17, round 23 of the 2018 NRL season Kaufusi made his NRL debut for the Eels against the Melbourne Storm in a 20–4 loss. Kaufusi appeared in the Round 25 clash against the Sydney Roosters, playing 45 minutes making over 100 metres running. He completed 2018 with 2 NRL appearances.[2]

2019

On 22 April 2019, Kaufusi scored his first try in the NRL during the first game played at the new Western Sydney Stadium as Parramatta defeated Wests Tigers 51–6. Kaufusi re-signed with Parramatta until the end of 2022.[3]

Kaufusi made a total of eight appearances for Parramatta in the 2019 NRL season. Kaufusi played for the club's feeder side the Wentworthville Magpies in their Canterbury Cup NSW grand final defeat against Newtown at Bankwest Stadium.[4]

2020

Kaufusi played 13 games for Parramatta in the 2020 NRL season as the club finished third on the table. He did not feature in Parramatta's finals campaign which once again ended in the second week of the finals.[5]

2021

Kaufusi played 21 games for Parramatta in the 2021 NRL season. Kaufusi did not play for Parramatta in either of their two finals matches against Newcastle or Penrith.[6][7] On 22 December, Kaufusi signed a two-year deal worth $400,000 a season with Cronulla starting in 2023.[8]

2022

Kaufusi played 28 games for Parramatta in the 2022 NRL season including the clubs Grand Final loss to Penrith.[9]

In October, Kaufusi was named in the Samoa squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[10]

2023

Kaufusi played a total of 19 games for Cronulla in the 2023 NRL season as Cronulla finished sixth on the table. Kaufusi played in the clubs 13-12 upset loss against the Sydney Roosters which ended their season.[11]

2024

Kaufusi played 26 games for Cronulla in the 2024 NRL season as the club finished 4th on the table and qualified for the finals.[12] On 6 November, it was announced that Kaufusi re-signed a one-year extension with the Sharks.[13]

Statistics

Year Team Games Tries Pts
2018 Parramatta Eels 2
2019 8 1 4
2020 13
2021 21 1 4
2022 27 1 4
2023 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 19
2024 26 2 8
Totals 116 5 20

source: [14]

*denotes season competing

References

  1. ^ Rugby League Project
  2. ^ "NRL teams lists round 23". Daily Telegraph. 14 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Parramatta Eels thrash Wests Tigers 51-6 to christen new Parramatta Stadium". www.abc.net.au.
  4. ^ "Newtown reign supreme in epic decider". NSWRL.
  5. ^ "WTF was that?! Eels implode with TWO howlers in 60 seconds of madness". www.foxsports.com.au.
  6. ^ "Parramatta Eels defeat Newcastle Knights 28-20 in NRL elimination final". www.abc.net.au.
  7. ^ "Penrith Panthers handed NRL breach notice, fined $25,000 after incident in Parramatta semi-final". www.abc.net.au.
  8. ^ "Oregon Kaufusi joins Cronulla Sharks on two-year deal from 2023". www.msn.com.
  9. ^ "NRL Grand Final as it happened". www.theguardian.com.
  10. ^ Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021
  11. ^ "Sydney Roosters score 'wild' 13-12 NRL elimination final win over Cronulla Sharks, Penrith Panthers beat Warriors". www.abc.net.au.
  12. ^ "The Mole's end of season review: Awkward Sharks puzzle laid bare after $1m star 'lost his way'". www.nine.com.au.
  13. ^ "Kaufusi re-signs and another Puru joins the Sharks". Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Oregon Kaufusi". Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
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