Roar Exclusive: Sam Kasiano to join Harlem Globetrotters

Sam Kasiano has announced today that he will be leaving the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs effective immediately to pursue a career in basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Well known for his outstanding offloads, popular prop forward Sam Kasiano will take his best asset to the court on Wednesday when the Harlem Globetrotters come to Canberra.

Kasiano displayed his skills in yesterday’s loss to the Gold Coast Titans with a no-look basketball shot to Timoteo Lafai as well as several of his signature move – the offload.

“Wow! This kid is amazing. It’s great to see that he is taking advantage of his skills and making the switch to rugby league. Rugby league will miss big Sammy,” said veteran Nine Network commentator Phil Gould today.

Popular rugby league journalist Phil Rothfield had other thoughts suggesting that the government should take tax from the general populous in order to help the NRL in keeping its star players.

“Something needs to change and it must start in parliament,” Rothfield stated after Kasiano’s announcement, “we have lost too many players to other codes. Jarryd Hayne, Sam Burgess and Sonny Bill Williams. Joe Hockey and Tony Abbott need to take money out of our pockets and implant it into the pockets of our star players.”

Rothfield’s comment received huge backlash from the community.

Jarryd Hayne also voiced his opinion on Kasiano’s switch, extending an offer for Kasiano to live with him in his San Francisco home.

“Kasiano is a talented fella, I wish him all the best with the Harlem Globetrotters. Its great to see that he is going with his heart and has chosen to leave rugby league to chase his dream.”

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs prop forward will travel with the Globetrotters on their Australian tour and will join ‘Big Easy’ Lofton, ‘Thunder’ Law, ‘Sweet J’ Ekworomadu, ‘Scooter’ Christensen, ‘Dragon’ Taylor, ‘Flight Time’ Lang, ‘Hammer’ Harrison, ‘Smooth’ Staples, ‘Slick’ Willie Shaw and ‘Too Tall’ Hall in the line-up.

‘Slammin’ Sam Kasiano
Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand
Position: Big man
Number: 10
Height: 6’5”
Signature Move: Offload

The Harlem Globetrotters begin their Australian tour on Wednesday, June 17 in Canberra before travelling to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide and Perth.

Note: Sam Kasiano will continue playing rugby league. Keep ‘em coming Sammy (and hold onto the ball)!