Townsville Blackhawks enforcer Patrick Kaufusi rubbed out for season after brutal brawl injury

A star footballer has suffered a horror injury that has ended his season. WATCH THE VIDEO

Footy player suffers throat injury

The brother of a Queensland Maroons champion faces surgery to save his voice after suffering a strike to the throat during a Queensland Cup brawl that broke out on Saturday night.

Townsville Blackhawks backrower Patrick Kaufusi, the younger brother of Dolphins NRL enforcer Felise, will likely miss the rest of the season after becoming embroiled in a 79th minute scuffle against the Burleigh Bears.

Blackhawks coach Terry Campese said it was particularly disappointing considering how the injury came about.

“It was in that melee, he got punched I think,” Campese said.

“It wasn’t in a tackle or anything, it was in that melee at the end so very disappointing. He’s been a huge part of our season, he’s such a good player and he’s someone that you want to run out with every week.

Patrick Kaufusi underwent medical evaluation on Sunday to determine whether he would need surgery on his throat. Picture: Alix Sweeney

“I know that he couldn’t really speak properly after the game when I spoke to him, so hopefully for him and his family’s sake it’s not too serious.

“We find out tomorrow, he’s getting an MRI today (Sunday) on his throat, but it looks like not the best of results, so it looks like he might be going under the knife.”

Incoming Townsville Blackhawks coach Terry Campese with 2024 signing James Tamou. Picture: Supplied.

Townsville completed a miracle comeback following a stunning quadruple sin bin to steal a season-defining result, drawing 18-all with the fourth-placed Bears.

The Blackhawks trailed by six points in the final two minutes when a scuffle broke out between Guy Hamilton and Jake Bourke in the Blackhawks in-goal, quickly erupting into an all-in fracas when Sami Sauiluma and Patrick Kaufusi joined the fray.

Officials were left with no option but to sideline the four main instigators, blowing a penalty to Townsville on its own line and leaving each team with just 11 players for the chaotic final set.

Clean passing and hard running allowed the Blackhawks to march into striking distance before Dudley Dutoi soared through the sky to claim a Kyle Laybutt bomb and touch down with the final play of the game.

Fullback Lennix Tovo still had to nail the tricky conversion attempt from out wide after missing his first two shots at goal, but the 22-year-old Kiwi made no mistake.

Townsville Blackhawks against the CQ Capras at Jack Manski Oval. Blackhawks Lennix Tovo. Picture: Evan Morgan

Campese said both sides being reduced to 11 players led to his expansive plan for the final set Hail Mary.

“When we had the players sent off I thought it was an opportunity to ship the ball around because we’d have heaps of space and they did a good job to get down there,” Campese said.

“Dudley (Dutoi) has been quite extraordinary for us in the last few weeks, I thought he was great to finish at the end of the game and get high and catch it.

“Then Lennix (Tovo) obviously had to kick the goal to make it a draw, so they were both under huge pressure for young players.”

Townsville takes on the Brisbane Tigers next week in Mount Isa as they push to re-enter the finals picture with five rounds remaining.

Originally published as Townsville Blackhawks enforcer Patrick Kaufusi rubbed out for season after brutal brawl injury