Oregon Kaufusi reveals how he dropped 10kg in five weeks
At 120kg, Oregon Kaufusi had the kind of fearsome frame you want in a prop. But the rising Parramatta star knew he needed to step up, so took control of his diet for a drastic physical change.
Rising Parramatta prop Oregon Kaufusi is desperate to play regular NRL football he dropped a massive 10kg in five weeks.
If that wasn’t drastic enough, the 20-year-old melted the pounds away eating only rice and vegetables at nearly every meal.
Kaufusi, who played eight games in 2019 coming off the bench, tipped the scales at around 120kg but a conversation with coach Brad Arthur led to his self-imposed physical transformation.
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Oregon Kaufusi felt something had to change. Photo: Gregg Porteous / NRL Photos“Last year I was playing at close to 120kg but playing at that weight wasn’t me. Then when the season finished BA [Arthur] mentioned something about me being more mobile, more aggressive,” he said.
“I thought if I did drop that weight it will help me move around the park a bit more. No one made me do it, I made the decision to lose the weight myself now I’m at a consistent 110kgs.”
A typical day of eating for Kaufusi would include a protein shake made with coconut water for breakfast, rice and lettuce for lunch and then more rice and some vegetables for dinner.
“I’m a meat lover, I love a good steak and I love my seafood so it was really tough for me. I think I missed eating salmon the most. But I was so motivated to lose weight,” he said.
Kaufusi committed to the change he wanted. Photo: Nathan Hopkins / NRL PhotosDespite the meagre meals somehow Kaufusi managed to maintain his strength in the gym over the period and was still bench pressing upwards of 140kg. For comparison, Eels behemoth Junior Paulo weighs 123kg and was bench pressing 150kg.
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“Lifting wise I have managed to keep up my strength, I was still hitting my targets. The big ones are squatting and benching press, I hit 140kg on the bench press, I’m really big on building and staying strong in my upper body. You have boys like Junior [Paulo] who are bench pressing about 150kg plus.
“But the big thing I did notice was my conditioning, I feel a lot fitter, a lot lighter on my feet. I feel like I can motor a bit longer.”
David Gower with Kaufusi at Tathra Public School. Photo: Nathan Hopkins / NRL PhotosFOOTY TIPS! Join Australia’s best footy tipping competition for your chance to win big. Add our experts to your league and join now at TIPS.COM.AU.
A slimmed-down Kaufusi ‘shocked’ his teammates when he arrived for day one of preseason in November but none more so than Arthur — who had no idea the impact a short post-season conversion would have on his young forward.
But with the addition of recruits Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Ryan Matterson into the forward pack, the Eels junior wanted to show his coach how badly he wanted a start in the side’s top 17.
“Everyone was a bit shocked when I first showed up to training, they gave a bit of stick, even BA joked that he thought I looked a ‘bit lighter’. But he [Arthur] was happy with how I returned to preseason,” he said.
“I wanted to show him I was coming to preseason prepared, that I’m ready and I’m serious about this year. I really do believe I have a chance to get into the 17 this year and cement a spot there.”
Stefano Utoikamanu has been setting the levels at training. Photo: Brett CostelloBut Kaufusi isn’t the only youngster making an impression during preseason in western Sydney. Wests Tigers bound Stefano Utoikamanu has been setting the benchmark at training, one that even Kaufusi at times has struggled to keep up with.
“He trained the house down. He’s one of the boys I look to compete with at training. He’s the type that sets the standard and the benchmark and I follow, it is a bit weird because he’s the younger one and I’m the one chasing him,” Kaufusi said.
Last month, Utoikamanu, 19, one of the brightest prop prospects in the game signed a three-year starting in season 2021 with the Tigers. While Utoikamanu is yet to make his NRL debut, Kaufusi believes he and his best mate will fulfil a childhood dream of playing first grade football in the same team.
“I call him my cousin, we are very close family friends and we grew up together. It’s upsetting to see him go but he had to make a decision for his future. The Tigers are getting a very good pick up in Stephano, he is very consistent, strong and fit. I reckon he’ll see a lot of first grade this year,” he said.
Replies
It's good to see we will have some genuine competition for front row spits this season with Evans, Alvaro,Terepo,Kaufusi and Utoikamanu all fighting for 2 spots, plus Gower as well.
I hope Kaufusi locks down that position in the 17 and has a big year in first grade.
In a recent interview, Moses said that he believed Niukore would be the surprise package in 2020 but slightly balked when the interviewer mentioned Stefano.
I thought Niukore was one of the Eels better forwards on Friday night. I believe he is building into a genuine impact player.
I reckon that the two things that will make MM happy this year is having Matterson run off him on the right edge and Joey Johns coaching him.
Why didn't the Eels wrap this kid up that's going it the tigers?? I don't understand if there is so much hype why we keep guys play Evans, alrvo, Peni etc over him??
Jack what I understand is that the Eels offered similar money to the Tigers.
It has been reported that his father did not want him at the Eels due to some perceived medical issues. He was apparently not happy with the treatment given to his older brother for an injury by the Eels.
Evans, Alvaro and Peni were all under contract for 2020. No decision to make.
It is highly unlikely that all three would have been let go had they not been already signed.
Correct John, seems there are still those on here who are constantly crying out for players to be signed to contracts, yet do not realise who is still under contract for this year? and in Alvaro's case next year as well.
I would say also that both Marata and Oregon will be pretty much constants on the bench this year, I see Alvaro and Evans fighting it out for the vacant prop replacement, Oregon will be the other one, he has lost some weight and that will make him a bit more agile without losing his punch
While it may well be a big loss with Stefano, & I cannot see him reneging on the Wests deal, we do have a couple of other props in the development squad that will show up in place of Stefano. Will he come back to the eels? No idea. but unless he shows the same at the tigs as Jnr did at the raiders, not sure we will see him back at the eels though.
Because the Tigers were willing to pay massive overs, and we weren't.
I am yet to see all the hype in both Stefano and Kafusi. Bit more upside with kafusi but the other bloke is a slower version of Pauly pauly. Love to be proven wrong.
Kafusi doesnt run at holes or shoulder edges , he needs to develop footwork and create issues with his size and strength. He will get better as MOSES creates the holes and he learns to run into them rather than being a battering ram.
That's one bad thing that parramatta did in the offseason, I definitely would of signed S Utoikimanu on a long term deal. He looks really fit and strong, could be a Smokey for round 1.
14: M Nuikore
15: O Kaufusi
16: K Evsns
17: S Utoikimanu
that would be my bench for round 1.
if you wanna go for a utility then
14: R Stone ( utility
15: M Nuikore
16 K Evans
17: O Kaufusi
this weekends trail will tell us a lot.