Sam Kasiano

Sam Kasiano

Kasiano while playing for New Zealand at the 2013 World Cup
Personal information
Born	(1990-09-21) 21 September 1990 Auckland, New Zealand
Height	196 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight	122 kg (19 st 3 lb)
Playing information
Position	Prop
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2011–	Canterbury Bulldogs	76	7	0	0	28
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
2012–13	New Zealand	6	0	0	0	0
Source: [1]

Sam Kasiano (born 21 September 1990) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League. A New Zealand national representative prop forward, Kasiano has played his entire NRL career to date with the Bulldogs. Kasiano is of Samoan descent,^[2][3]

Early years

Kasiano was born and raised in Auckland. Kasiano started playing rugby league at the age of eight for the Otahuhu Leopards but stopped once he started high school, however in 2007 he played for the Mount Albert Grammar School's 1st XIII.^[4] After moving to Brisbane as a teenager, Kasiano played for the Aspley Devils under 18s before being picked up by the Norths Devils Colts for the 2009 season.^[5] Kasiano was then signed by the Bulldogs and played for their Toyota Cup side for the 2010 season, where he quickly became one of the competition standouts his form saw him rewarded with a spot in the 2010 Junior Kiwis team.^[6]

Playing career

2011

In Round 1 of the 2011 NRL season, Kasiano made his NRL debut for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at prop against the Wests Tigers in the Bulldogs 24-14 win at ANZ Stadium.^[7] Kasiano went on to play 19 games in his debut season and picked up the Steve Mortimer Medal for the Bulldogs Rookie of the Year.^[8]

2012

In March 2012, it was reported that Kasiano had declared his representative allegiance to the Queensland Maroons and Australian national team, however Kasiano himself sent a letter to the NZRL indicating he wants to play for his country of birth, New Zealand.^[9][10] In Round 2 match against the New Zealand Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium, Kasiano scored his first NRL career try in the Bulldogs 32-18 win.^[11] At the 2012 Dally M Awards Kasiano was named the NRL's prop forward of the year.^[12] In the Bulldogs 2012 NRL Grand Final match against the Melbourne Storm, Kasiano started at prop in the Bulldogs 14-4 loss.^[13][14] Kasiano played in 24 matches and scored a try for the Bulldogs in the 2012 NRL season. Kasiano made his New Zealand test debut in the October Test at prop in the Kiwis 20-12 loss to Australia at 1300SMILES Stadium.^[15] Kasiano was last weighed in June 2012 and held the highest weight among the NRL heavyweights, of 133 kg.

2013

Kasiano missed the first 7 matches with a leg injury until returning in Round 8 in a 40-4 win over the Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium.^[16] In Round 21 match against the St George Illawarra Dragons at Jubilee Oval, Kasiano scored a double in the Bulldogs 39-20 win.^[17] Kasiano played in 13 matches and scored 3 tries for the Bulldogs in the 2013 NRL season. Kasiano was selected in the New Zealand 2013 World Cup squad, playing in 5 matches including playing off the interchange bench in the Kiwis 34-2 loss to Australia in the World Cup Final at Old Trafford.^[18][19]

2014

Kasiano returned to the Bulldogs first grade squad in Round 7 against the South Sydney Rabbitohs off the interchange bench in the 15-14 win after missing the early round recovering from a foot injury and playing in NSW Cup.^[20] In Round 22 against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, Kasiano suffered a season ending ankle injury in the Bulldogs 41-10 loss.^[21][22] Kasiano finished the Bulldogs 2014 NRL season with him playing 14 matches and scoring 3 tries.

References

External links

• Sam Kasiano player profile
• Zero Tackle Profile