Sam Kasiano

Sam Kasiano (born 21 September 1990), also known by the nickname of "Dogzilla", is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Catalans Dragons in Super League. Kasiano is both a New Zealand and Samoan international.

Sam Kasiano
Personal information
Born (1990-09-21) 21 September 1990
Auckland, New Zealand
Height195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight126 kg (19 st 12 lb)
Playing information
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2011–17 Canterbury Bulldogs 139 15 0 0 60
2018 Melbourne Storm 14 1 0 0 4
2019– Catalans Dragons 22 3 0 0 12
Total 175 19 0 0 76
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2012–13 New Zealand 6 0 0 0 0
2015– Samoa 5 1 0 0 4
As of 5 September 2019
Source: [1][2]

Kasiano previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm in the NRL.

Background

Kasiano was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand. He is of Samoan descent.[3][4]

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.[5]

After moving to Brisbane as a teenager, Kasiano was educated at Wavell State High School where he played for the Aspley Devils under 18s before being picked up by the Norths Devils Colts for the 2009 season.[6] He was then signed by the Bulldogs, and played for their Toyota Cup (Under-20s) team 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.[7]

Playing career

2011

In Round 1, Kasiano made his NRL debut for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at prop against the Wests Tigers in the 24–14 win at ANZ Stadium.[8] He played 19 games in his debut season and picked up the Steve Mortimer Medal for the Bulldogs Rookie of the Year.[9]

2012

In March, 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 wanted to play for the country of his birth, New Zealand.[10][11] In Round 2 match against the New Zealand Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium, Kasiano scored his first NRL try in the Bulldogs 32–18 win.[12] At the 2012 Dally M Awards Kasiano was named the NRL's prop forward of the year.[13] In the Bulldogs 2012 NRL Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm, Kasiano started at prop in the Bulldogs 14–4 loss.[14][15] He played in 24 matches and scored a try in the NRL season. Kasiano made his New Zealand test debut in the October Test at prop in the 20–12 loss to Australia at 1300SMILES Stadium.[16] He was weighed in June and held the highest weight among the NRL players, of 133 kg.

Kasiano playing for New Zealand at the 2013 RLWC

2013

Kasiano missed the first 7 matches with a leg injury.[17] In Round 21 match against the St George Illawarra Dragons at Jubilee Oval, Kasiano scored a double in the 39–20 win.[18] He played in scored 3 tries in 13 matches for the Bulldogs in the 2013. Kasiano was selected in the New Zealand 2013 World Cup squad, playing in 5 matches including playing off the interchange bench in the 34–2 loss to Australia in the World Cup Final.[19][20]

Kasiano playing for the Bulldogs in 2014

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.[21] In Round 22 against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, Kasiano suffered a season ending ankle injury in the Bulldogs 41–10 loss.[22][23] Kasiano finished the season with him playing 14 matches and scoring 3 tries.

2015

On 3 March 2015, Kasiano extended his contract with the Bulldogs to the end of the 2018 season.[24] On 2 May 2015, Kasiano represented Samoa in the Polynesian Cup against Tonga. He was named man-of-the-match in the test. He and fellow Bulldogs teammate Frank Pritchard, who was captaining the team, made headlines in the match after making a 'double-team' try-saving hit on Tonga's Jorge Taufua in 77th minute forcing him over the sideline and securing Samoa the narrow margin 18–16 victory at Cbus Super Stadium.[25] In Round 21 against the Sydney Roosters, Kasiano was on the receiving end of a shoulder charge from Roosters forward Kane Evans, making headlines as one of the biggest hits of the year.[26][27] Kasiano finished off the 2015 season having played in 24 games and scoring 2 tries.[28]

2016

On 1 February 2016, Kasiano was named in the Bulldogs 2016 Auckland Nines squad.[29] In Round 6 against the Melbourne Storm, Kasiano played his 100th NRL career match in the Bulldogs 18–12 win at AAMI Park.[30] On 7 May 2016, Kasiano played for Samoa in the 2016 Polynesian Cup against Tonga, where he started at prop in the 18–6 win at Parramatta Stadium.[31] In Round 24 against the Brisbane Broncos, Kasiano was charged with a grade two dangerous contact charge after he kicked Broncos veteran Corey Parker in the face when he attempted to leave a tackle, leaving him with a split lip and chin during the Bulldogs 20–10 loss at Suncorp Stadium.[32] Kasiano was later given a two-match suspension.[33] Kasiano finished the 2016 NRL season with him playing in 23 matches and scoring 6 tries for the Bulldogs. On 8 October 2016, Kasiano represented Samoa in the Samoa vs. Fiji test match, where he started at prop and scored a try in the 20–18 loss in Apia, Samoa.[34]

2017

In February 2017, Kasiano was selected in the Bulldogs 2017 NRL Auckland Nines squad.[35] On 6 May 2017, Kasiano played for Samoa in the test against England, starting at prop in the 30–10 loss at Campbelltown Stadium.[36] On 5 July 2017, it was announced that Kasiano signed a 3-year contract with the Melbourne Storm to the end of the 2020 season.[37][38] Kasiano finished his last year the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with playing in 22 matches in the 2017 NRL season.

2018

In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL season, Kasiano made his club debut for the Melbourne Storm against his former club the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, playing off the interchange bench in the 36–18 win at Perth Stadium.[39] In round 6, Kasiano scored his first club try for the Storm in the 40–14 win over the Newcastle Knights at AAMI Park. He went onto represent Toa Samoa in the 2018 Pacific Rugby League Tests.

References
  1. loverugbyleague
  2. "Sam Kasiano - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  3. "Sam Kasiano Seeks Advice from Mum on Whether to Play for Queensland or New Zealand". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  4. "Why Sam Kasiano Said He'd Felt Weird Playing for Kangaroos". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  5. "Vs Waitakere College: June 6, 2007. : Mount Albert Grammar School". Mags.school.nz. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  6. "Profile at bulldogs.com.au". Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  7. "Junior Kiwis train-on squad named". Stuff.co.nz. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  8. "Bulldogs Beat Tigers in NRL Round One". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  9. "Tolman Named Bulldogs Player of the Year". Thekennel.net.au. 15 December 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  10. Aaron Lawton. "Pritchard into the trenches with Kiwis". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  11. "Queensland Increases Front Row Stocks with Sam Kasiano and Lama Tasi Declaring Allegiances to Maroons". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  12. "Bulldogs fend off Warriors comeback". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  13. News Limited (4 September 2012). "All the Dally M winners plus galleries". Herald Sun. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  14. Badel, Peter (30 September 2012). "Melbourne Storm beat Canterbury Bulldogs in 2012 NRL grand final". News.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  15. Toohey, Barry (30 September 2012). "Our player ratings for the NRL grand final between Canterbury and the Melbourne Storm". News.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  16. "Live Blog Australia v New Zealand". Theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  17. "Bulldogs Beat Tigers 40-4 in NRL Round 8". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  18. "Bulldogs Big Men Take Over as Dugan's Heroics in Vain". Theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  19. Bott, Richard. "Australia 34 New Zealand 2: Kangaroos crowned world champions | Daily Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  20. "World Cup final player ratings". NRL.com. 1 December 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  21. Paul Zalunardo. "South Sydney Rabbitohs v Canterbury Bulldogs". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  22. "Broncos Keep Their Finals Hopes Alive with a 41-10 Victory over Bulldogs". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  23. Adrian Proszenko (20 August 2014). "Sam Kasiano ruled out for rest of the NRL season". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  24. "Sam Kasiano re-signs with Canterbury". 30 March 2015 – via The Sydney Morning Herald.
  25. "Sam Kasiano Try Saving Tackle on Jorge Taufua Secures Pacific Test Win for Samoa Against Tonga". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  26. David Sygall (31 July 2015). "Sam Kasiano flattened by massive Kane Evans hit in Bulldogs v Roosters NRL match". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  27. "NRL finals: Sydney Roosters beat Canterbury Bulldogs after video referee howler". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  28. "Custom Match List". Rugby League Project. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  29. "Bulldogs name 2016 Nines squad - Rugby League Week". Rugby League Week. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  30. "Live NRL: Melbourne Storm v Canterbury Bulldogs". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  31. "Samoa triumph over Tonga in brutal affair".
  32. "NRL video: Brisbane enforcer Corey Parker claims Bulldogs prop Sam Kasiano knowingly kicked him in the face". 19 August 2016.
  33. "Sam Kasiano cops two game ban for kick on Corey Parker". 22 August 2016.
  34. "Samoa v Fiji rugby league Test live: kick off time, TV time, live scores, live updates". 8 October 2016.
  35. "2017 Downer NRL Auckland Nines squads".
  36. "Subscribe - couriermail". www.couriermail.com.au.
  37. Bailey, Scott (6 July 2017). "Storm sign Kasiano, keep Asofa-Solomona" – via The Sydney Morning Herald.
  38. "Sam Kasiano NRL Storm deal from Bulldogs: Signed three year contract". 28 June 2017.
  39. https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/live-nrl-canterbury-bulldogs-v-melbourne-storm-live-scores-updates-news-blog/news-story/c04531badbce17756b8eda283223d4d9
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