REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Wednesday, May 23, 2007

ANTONIO Kaufusi’s last-minute call-up to the Queensland State of Origin team came as an early wedding present for his brideto-be, Gold Coaster Bree McLennan.

“I’m coming home,’’ said an excited Bree from a cold and wet Melbourne.

“We’ll be coming up again in October to get married at Robina Woods.’’

Kaufusi, who played for the Melbourne Storm, was flown into the Gold Coast to join the Maroons camp as an emergency player following an injury to enforcer Carl Webb.

Just before lunchtime, he phoned Bree to tell her he had been promoted to the top 17.

Kaufusi was expected to come off the bench in the State of Origin series opener against NSW at Suncorp Stadium.

“At the moment all I feel is excitement,’’ said Bree.

“Antonio has wanted this for so long. To play Origin, to play for Queensland. He just can’t believe it. I think it’s fantastic.

“Any excuse to get back to Queensland. I will be on the first flight in the morning.’’

The couple met more than three years before while both were holidaying in Bundaberg.

Kaufusi, a former Nudgee First XV rugby union player, was then a young Melbourne Storm prop while Bree was living with her mum Karen on the Gold Coast and working in childcare.

Romance blossomed and Bree moved to Melbourne in 2004. The couple now had a child, then-two-year-old Pelenatita.

“I can’t believe it, this is my first Origin,” said Bree.

“I wasn’t really into footy before I met Antonio, but I knew what Origin was all about.’’