A mainstay of the Sharks pack over the past two seasons, prop Oregon Kaufusi has agreed to terms on a one-year contract and will remain at the Cronulla club in 2025.
Kaufusi played the first 23 games of the 2024 season for the Sharks, sat out round 27, before then playing the club's three finals matches in emphasising his durability and resilience.
Since joining the club in 2023, Kaufusi has played 45 top-grade games for the Sharks and 116 NRL games in total after playing five years at the Parramatta Eels.
Still just 25 years of age, the 115kg prop, who celebrated his 100th NRL game in 2024, looks forward to playing a leading role for the Sharks once again in 2025.
"We took some positive steps forward last season and I'm keen to play my part in helping the team continue to improve again next year," Kaufusi said.
"We have a close group here at Cronulla, I enjoy working with Fitzy and the coaching staff and I'm excited about season ahead."
Often unheralded and underrated outside the walls of the Cronulla club, coach Craig Fitzgibbon is certainly one to appreciate what Kaufusi contributes to the playing group and what he brings each time he runs out onto the field.
"Oregon gets about his business consistently and to a high standard week after week and we're pleased to have him returning next season," Fitzgibbon said
"He was outstanding for us last year and there is no doubt he has even more improvement in him going forward. For a front rower to play all but one game like he did last year, performing to a high level all season, was a fantastic effort and he will again be a key member of our forward pack in 2025."
Kaufusi, who also became a father for the first time towards the end of the 2023 season, has represented his nation of origin in Samoa on five occasions.
While in more signing news, utility Hohepa Puru, twin brother of talented half/five-eighth Niwhai, joins the Sharks' full time NRL squad for the 2025 season.
With the ability to play lock, hooker or in the halves, the 22-year-old Hohepa played alongside his brother in the Panthers' premiership-winning Jersey Flegg Cup team of 2022, earning man-of-the-match honours in the competition decider.
Puru transferred to the Raiders in 2023, performing strongly in the NSW Cup before making his NRL debut in round 27 of that season, ironically in a match against the Sharks. He would go on to also play a finals series match for Canberra in 2023.
In 2024 he captained the Raiders NSW Cup team which was knocked out in the preliminary final by brother Niwhai's Newtown Jets one game before the Grand Final.
