Born: 21 September, 1990 – Auckland
Test record: 6 Tests (2012-13) – 0 points
Tours: 2013 World Cup

Man-mountain prop Sam Kasiano played six Tests for the Kiwis during his 2012-13 heyday at Canterbury Bulldogs.

Auckland-born Kasiano played junior football for Otahuhu Leopards and returned to rugby league after moving to Brisbane as a teenager, coming through the grades with Aspley Devils and Norths Devils. The giant tyro was snapped up by the Bulldogs and played for the club’s NYC team in 2010 before playing 19 NRL games the following season.

Kasiano, an imposing 196cm and 122kg, exploded in 2012 as he combined his raw size and power with silky ball skills. He was named Dally M Prop of the Year after helping the Bulldogs to the minor premiership and played in their grand final defeat to Melbourne Storm. A breakout year was capped by a Test debut in the front-row in New Zealand’s post-season loss to Australia in Townsville.

Hampered by injuries over the next two seasons, Kasiano nevertheless played in five of the Kiwis’ six matches at the 2013 World Cup – including the epic semi-final eclipse of England at Wembley and the loss to the Kangaroos in the Old Trafford final.

He missed the Bulldogs’ unlikely 2014 grand final charge but was a regular in their pack for the following three seasons played five Tests for Samoa from 2015-18.

Kasiano joined the Storm in 2018 and made 14 top-grade appearances but dropped out of the side ahead of the grand final, instead playing in Queensland Cup feeder team Easts Tigers’ premiership win.

Heading to Super League, Kasiano spent four solid seasons with Catalans Dragons before linking with Warrington ahead of the 2023 season.