Kaufusi to Debut - Webb Ruled Out

BUNDABERG’S Antonio Kaufusi is set to make his XXXX Queensland Maroons debut, following the withdrawal of forward Carl Webb. Includes latest team line-ups.

A day out from the Harvey Norman State of Origin opener at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, Webb has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

The 26-year-old underwent a brief fitness test this morning, following MRI scans yesterday evening.

Webb will return to Townsville to receive treatment for the injury within the next 48 hours, maximising his odds of recovering for the remainder of the Origin series.

His withdrawal presents an opportunity for 190cm, 112kg forward Kaufusi, raised in the same city where Maroons coach Mal Meninga was born.

Kaufusi 22, is a Bundaberg Brothers junior who played 50 games in the Queensland Wizard Cup for the Norths Devils prior to becoming a fulltime member of the Melbourne Storm.


XXXX QUEENSLAND MAROONS
v New South Wales 'Wizard' Blues
Suncorp Stadium
May 23, 2007

1. Karmichael HUNT  (Brisbane Broncos)
2. Brent TATE  (Brisbane Broncos)
3. Steven BELL  (Manly Sea Eagles)
4. Justin HODGES  (Brisbane Broncos)
5. Greg INGLIS  (Melbourne Storm)
6. Darren LOCKYER (c)  (Brisbane Broncos)
7. Johnathan THURSTON  (North QLD Cowboys)
8. Steve PRICE  (New Zealand Warriors)
9. Cameron SMITH  (Melbourne Storm)
10. Petero CIVONICEVA  (Brisbane Broncos)
11. Tonie CARROLL  (Brisbane Broncos)
13. Dallas JOHNSON  (Melbourne Storm)
14. Shaun BERRIGAN  (Brisbane Broncos)
15. Jacob LILLYMAN  (North QLD Cowboys)
16. Nate MYLES  (Sydney Roosters)
17. Neville COSTIGAN  (Canberra Raiders)
18. Antonio KAUFUSI (Melbourne Storm)


COACH: Mal MENINGA


NEW SOUTH WALES 'WIZARD' BLUES

1. Anthony MINICHIELLO (Sydney Roosters)
2. Matt KING (Melbourne Storm)
3. Jamie LYON (Manly Sea Eagles)
4. Matt COOPER (St George-Illawarra Dragons)
5. Jarryd HAYNE (Parramatta Eels)
6. Braith ANASTA (Sydney Roosters)
7. Jarrod MULLEN (Newcastle Knights)
8.  Brett WHITE (Melbourne Storm)
9. Danny BUDERUS (Newcastle Knights)
10.Brent KITE (Manly Sea Eagles)
11. Willie MASON (Bulldogs)
12. Nathan HINDMARSH (Parramatta Eels)
13. Andrew RYAN (Bulldogs)

14. Luke BAILEY (Gold Coast Titans)
15. Steve SIMPSON (Newcastle Knights)
16. Anthony TUPOU (Sydney Roosters)
17. Kurt GIDLEY (Newcastle Knights)

COACH: Graham MURRAY