Australian Kaufusi follows Bailey north to Huddersfield

The League Leaders’ Shield winners have now further enhanced their squad having already captured the ex-Australia forward’s London colleague Chris Bailey earlier this week.

Kaufusi, 28, is known for his hard-hitting defence after developing his game with the revered Melbourne Storm and playing in two NRL Grand Finals before moving to Super League two years ago.

He also represented the Exiles last season and featured with Tonga at the last World Cup.

“Antonio brings a wealth of experience to the Giants and his pedigree is unbelievable,” said Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson, who, as a former international front-row himself, knows a good prop when he sees one.

“He’s played in NRL Grand Finals, 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), he’ll certainly add depth to our squad.

“When we spoke 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.”

Leeds Rhinos, who have seven players in England’s World Cup squad, have had another two called up for the Knights.

Ben Jones-Bishop and Brad Singleton have been called up for the friendly against Samoa at Salford City Stadium on October 19.

Wigan, who have six players in England’s World Cup squad, have another four in Kieron Purtill’s 19-man Knights squad – Dom Crosby, Sam Powell, Scott Taylor and Iain Thornley.

The match will be played as a curtain-raiser to England’s World Cup warm-up against Italy.

England World Cup coach Steve McNamara says the game against Samoa will provide one last chance for players to force themselves into his plans.

“It is a good opportunity for all the players, you never know who is watching,” added Knights coach Purtill.

England Knights: B Cockayne (Wakefield), D Crosby (Wigan), K Dixon (London Broncos), C Green (Hull), J Hodgson (Hull KR), J Jones (St Helens), B Jones-Bishop (Leeds), M Lawrence (Huddersfield), J Lomax (St Helens), T Makinson (St Helens), R Myler (Warrington), Sam Powell (Wigan), S Ratchford (Warrington), D Sarginson (London Broncos), B Singleton (Leeds), S Taylor (Wigan), I Thornley (Wigan), L Watts (Hull), E Whitehead (Catalan Dragons).

Hull Kingston Rovers expect to have at least nine new faces for 2014 after lining up five more signings, including three involved in the forthcoming World Cup.

The Robins have already confirmed the captures of Bradford’s Jamie Langley and overseas trio Kris Keating, Michael Weyman and Neville Costigan and have agreed a transfer fee with Wakefield for winger Ben Cockayne.

“We’ve announced four players up to now and have signed another two who are due to be announced shortly,” said Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell.

“On the back of that, there are two World Cup players that we’ve agreed terms with and there is one more in the pipeline.”

Bradford Bulls have released full-back Curtis Naughton, 19, to enable him to emigrate with his family to Australia.