Simi Sasagi

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Simi Sasagi
Personal information
Full nameNathanael Sasagi[1]
Born (2001-04-24) 24 April 2001 (age 22)
Auckland, New Zealand
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
Playing information
PositionCentre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2021–23 Newcastle Knights 16 0 0 0 0
2024– Canberra Raiders 0 0 0 0 0
Total 16 0 0 0 0
Source: [2]
As of 16 September 2023

Nathanael "Simi" Sasagi (born 24 April 2001) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League (NRL).

He previously played for the Newcastle Knights.

Background[edit]

Sasagi was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He is of Samoan descent.[3]

He played his junior rugby league for the Ellerslie Eagles, before being signed by the Newcastle Knights.

Playing career[edit]

Early years[edit]

Sasagi started his career at the Knights playing with their S. G. Ball Cup team in 2018,[4] before re-signing with the club on a contract until the end of 2020, with an option for a further two seasons after that.[5] In 2019 and 2020, he trained with the first-grade squad as a development player,[6] but only played two games for the Knights' Jersey Flegg Cup side in that time after being hampered by injury.[4][7] He was named in the Junior Kiwis squad in September 2019.[8]

2021[edit]

In 2021, Sasagi was promoted to the top 30 squad and spent his time playing with the NSW Cup side.[9][10] He made his NRL debut for Newcastle against North Queensland in round 11 of the 2021 NRL season,[11] playing in the centres as Newcastle were defeated 20–36.[12]

2022[edit]

Sasagi played 14 games for Newcastle in the 2022 NRL season which saw the club missing the finals finishing 14th on the table.[13]

2023[edit]

In August, Sasagi signed a 2-year contract with the Canberra Raiders starting in 2024, after gaining a release from the remainder of his Knights contract.[14][15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Panthers stumble against the Knights". Penrith Panthers. 15 February 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Simi Sasagi - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
  3. ^ "Where we're from: Our cultural heritage" – via www.newcastleknights.com.au.
  4. ^ a b "Nathanael Sasagi". 1 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Exciting teen prospect Sasagi extends contract". Newcastle Knights. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Full 2020 squad list and development players". Newcastle Knights. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Nathanael Sasagi". Newcastle Knights. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Big contingent in Junior Kiwis squad". Warriors. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Full 2021 NRL squad list and development players". Newcastle Knights. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Round 9 NSW Cup Team List". Newcastle Knights. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Late Mail: Sasagi debuts". Newcastle Knights. 20 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Cowboys v Knights". National Rugby League. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  13. ^ "NRL 2022: Newcastle Knights season review". www.sportingnews.com.
  14. ^ "Raiders re-sign Tom Starling and sign Simi Sasagi". Canberra Raiders. 21 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Raiders land yet another Newcastle Knight". The Canberra Times. 23 June 2023.

External links[edit]