Sam Kasiano (born 21 September 1990) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Warrington Wolves in Super League. He is both a New Zealand and Samoan international.
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.
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.
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. 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.
Playing career
2011 - 2017: Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
In Round 1, Kasiano made his NRL debut for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at against the Wests Tigers in the 24–14 win at ANZ Stadium. He played 19 games in his debut season and picked up the Steve Mortimer Medal for the Bulldogs Rookie of the Year.
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 wanted to play for the country of his birth, New Zealand. 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. At the 2012 Dally M Awards Kasiano was named the NRL's prop forward of the year. In the Bulldogs 2012 NRL Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm, Kasiano started at prop in the Bulldogs 14–4 loss. 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. He was weighed in June and held the highest weight among the NRL players, of 133 kg.
Kasiano missed the first 7 matches of 2013 with a leg injury. In Round 21 match against the St George Illawarra Dragons at Jubilee Oval, Kasiano scored a double in the 39–20 win. 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.
Kasiano returned to the Bulldogs first grade squad in Round 7 of the 2104 season 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. In Round 22 against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, Kasiano suffered a season ending ankle injury in the Bulldogs 41–10 loss. Kasiano finished the season with him playing 14 matches and scoring 3 tries.
On 3 March 2015, Kasiano extended his contract with the Bulldogs to the end of the 2018 season. 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. 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. Kasiano finished off the 2015 season having played in 24 games and scoring 2 tries.