St George Illawarra have signed Storm prop Patrick Kaufusi to fill the void left by Jack de Belin while he fights for reinstatement to the NRL.
Kaufusi makes the move ahead of the June 30 transfer deadline, fitting the governing bodys criteria for salary cap dispensation for the suspended de Belin. De Belin has launched a fresh legal challenge to the validity of the NRLs controversial no fault" stand-down policy in the form of a Federal Court appeal. The matter returns to court next week in the form of an interlocutory hearing.
On the move: Patrick Kaufusi is off to the Dragons.
Kaufusis signing ends speculation about the former NSW locks replacement and fills the final void in the clubs top-30 roster.
"You don't replace a player of Jack de Belin's calibre with ease, particularly midway through the season," said Dragons director of rugby league pathways and list management Ian Millward.
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"This entire process and circumstance has been extremely complex. It is complicated by not only the rules and regulations but also by the existing injury toll across the competition. This means clubs are unwilling to release players, as the representative period is back in full swing too.
"There has also been no clarity over salary cap dispensation for 2020 or when a determination of Jack's matters will be reached, which makes it very difficult to both accurately plan as a club and offer prospective players any certainty beyond 2019 – particularly with 23 players already under contract for next year.
"It has been a lengthy process to get to this point but we are pleased we have been able to come to this arrangement with Patrick and the Melbourne Storm."
The Dragons have previously been linked to another Melbourne forward, Joe Stimson, but he has signed with Canterbury.
Kaufusi has played 25 NRL games to date, but only three of those have been for the Storm since shifting from the Cowboys in 2018. The Tongan international is hopeful of adding to the total at an injury-hit Red V.
"Patrick is a welcomed addition to our roster for 2019, he's a quality person from a tremendous squad and system," Millward said.
"He's a player capable of playing in the middle and back row, who is keen and willing to play first grade.
St George Illawarra have signed Storm prop Patrick Kaufusi to fill the void left by Jack de Belin while he fights for reinstatement to the NRL.
Kaufusi makes the move ahead of the June 30 transfer deadline, fitting the governing bodys criteria for salary cap dispensation for the suspended de Belin. De Belin has launched a fresh legal challenge to the validity of the NRLs controversial no fault" stand-down policy in the form of a Federal Court appeal. The matter returns to court next week in the form of an interlocutory hearing.
On the move: Patrick Kaufusi is off to the Dragons.
Kaufusis signing ends speculation about the former NSW locks replacement and fills the final void in the clubs top-30 roster.
"You don't replace a player of Jack de Belin's calibre with ease, particularly midway through the season," said Dragons director of rugby league pathways and list management Ian Millward.
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"This entire process and circumstance has been extremely complex. It is complicated by not only the rules and regulations but also by the existing injury toll across the competition. This means clubs are unwilling to release players, as the representative period is back in full swing too.
"There has also been no clarity over salary cap dispensation for 2020 or when a determination of Jack's matters will be reached, which makes it very difficult to both accurately plan as a club and offer prospective players any certainty beyond 2019 – particularly with 23 players already under contract for next year.
"It has been a lengthy process to get to this point but we are pleased we have been able to come to this arrangement with Patrick and the Melbourne Storm."
The Dragons have previously been linked to another Melbourne forward, Joe Stimson, but he has signed with Canterbury.
Kaufusi has played 25 NRL games to date, but only three of those have been for the Storm since shifting from the Cowboys in 2018. The Tongan international is hopeful of adding to the total at an injury-hit Red V.
"Patrick is a welcomed addition to our roster for 2019, he's a quality person from a tremendous squad and system," Millward said.
"He's a player capable of playing in the middle and back row, who is keen and willing to play first grade.
