Felise Kaufusi on the Rabbitohs radar

Anthony Seibold is making waves early in his head coaching career, declaring his interest in a signing a second international in as many weeks.

Last week brought news of South Sydney contemplating making a play for Kiwi fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, this week it’s Kangaroo’s forward Felise Kaufusi.

Seibold was Melbourne’s assistant coach in 2015 when Kaufusi debuted for the Storm, and coming off a breakout season, could demand some serious cash on the market.

Seeing how the forward responds to the exit of Cooper Cronk will be make or break for Kaufusi, who scored many a try running off the hip of the Queensland and Kangaroo’s halfback.

The Rabbitohs are in the market for backrowers, with Angus Crichton set to defect to their Bondi rivals the Roosters and John Sutton likely to hang up the boots at season’s end.

Kaufusi would get the opportunity to run off former Blue Adam Reynolds on South Sydney’s right edge, as well as join a side coming to the end of a rebuilding phase that has seen them finish 12^th in two consecutive seasons.

But with the recruitment of Dane Gagai, the return of Greg Inglis and a new head coach for the first time in six years, South’s fortunes seem to be changing.

The addition of Kaufusi to a forward pack already containing three Burgess brothers, Zane Musgrove and young gun Cameron Murray could be tempting enough to depart a club where he’s already achieved almost everything he can with the side.

Felise only signed a one-year deal with Melbourne in 2017, meaning both he and his brother Pat come off-contract at season’s end.

It’s a good sign for South Sydney fans to see the club so active in the player market already, an aspect that has been certainly lacking in Michael Maguire’s time at the club, with Gagai and Ben Te’o his only major recruits.