Kiwis worried Big Sam may go way of Tamou
Within about three minutes of watching him play I said to our recruitment bloke ‘quick, grab him’. Bulldogs under-20s coach Andy Patmore.
IT took three minutes of a trial match to convince the Bulldogs to sign the NRL’s next big thing hours later, but the New Zealand Rugby League face an anxious waiting game to discover if Sam Kasiano is the new James Tamou.
Kasiano secured his NRL future on Thursday when he recommitted to the Bulldogs until the end of 2015 so the 21-year-old’s next career move involves the representative arena.
Although he is only 32 games into his first grade career, the Auckland-born but Queensland eligible front rower is already facing the same conundrum Tamou wrestled with before pledging allegiance to NSW and Australia.
The North Queensland prop’s decision to play for the Kangaroos in the Anzac Test – a conduit to the State of Origin representation – despite being in the Kiwis train-on squad for last year’s Four Nations tournament, highlighted the difficulty the NZRL has in retaining talent.
Kasiano, a 1.96-metre and 128kg gentle giant – the supersized kid who quit the code at school because he was scared of hurting smaller opponents – has signed a NZRL declaration to be considered for the Kiwis.
Ricky Stuart eventually convinced Tamou he was a true Blue and ominously Mal Meninga says Kasiano has sided with the Maroons.
Originally scouted by the Brisbane Broncos, Kasiano was running amok with Norths Devils when Bulldogs recruitment manager Peter Mulholland flew him to Sydney for a hit-out against the Wests Tigers in 2009. Andy Patmore watched as Kasiano swiftly made an impression.
‘‘Within about three minutes of watching him play I said to our recruitment bloke ‘quick, grab him’.’’
Size is hardly a rare commodity in the lower grades but it was Kasiano’s skill set and stamina that placed him head and shoulders above his peers.
‘‘You just don’t have players that big and mobile with that much skill,’’ the coach said.
Kasiano made his Toyota Cup debut in 2010 against the Warriors and in 22 matches made 83 tackle breaks and averaged 150-metres of go forward.
There’s no Khoder Nasser-style mentor masterminding Kasiano’s rise. In terms of guidance, Mum’s the word.
Bulldogs management spend more time with Kalala Kasiano than her boy’s manager when his development is discussed.
So NZRL officials are in regular contact with Mrs Kasiano, hoping she will be an ally if and when Meninga makes another inquiry.
‘‘As a New Zealander I hope he plays for New Zealand,’’ she said, but: ‘‘It’s all up to Sam. He says Australia has offered him so much.’’
Should NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle be successful Kasiano will be presented with a Kiwis jersey at the team hotel before the trans-Tasman test in Townsville on October 13.
Kasiano is a man of big stats but few words and when coaxed to state a preference after running roughshod over the Roosters last Monday he paused after refusing to rule out Queensland.
‘‘Whoever wants me. Whoever wants me, I’ll go there.’’