Sam Kasiano

Early years

Kasiano was born and raised in Auckland and 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 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 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.

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. He played 19 games in his debut season and picked up the Steve Mortimer Medal for the Bulldogs Rookie of the Year.

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 his country of 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 match 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.

2013

Kasiano missed the first 7 matches 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.

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. 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.

2015

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.

2016

On 1 February 2016, Kasiano was named in the Bulldogs 2016 Auckland Nines squad. In Round 6 against the Melbourne Storm, Kasiano played his 100th NRL career match in the Bulldogs 18-12 win at AAMI Park. 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. 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. Kasiano was later given a two-match suspension. 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.

2017

In February 2017, Kasiano was selected in the Bulldogs 2017 NRL Auckland Nines squad. Having played with the Canterbury Bulldogs for six years he then signed a 3 year contract with the Melbourne Storm until the end of 2020.<ref>http://www.nrl.com/2017-downer-nrl-auckland-nines-squads/tabid/10874/newsid/103308/default.aspx</