 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nathanael Sasagi [1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 24 April 2001 Auckland, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 94 kg (14 st 11 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Second-row, Centre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: [2] As of 7 September 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nathanael "Simi" Sasagi (born 24 April 2001) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League (NRL).
He previously played for the Newcastle Knights as a centre.
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.
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]
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]
Sasagi played 14 games for Newcastle in the 2022 NRL season which saw the club missing the finals finishing 14th on the table. [13]
In August, Sasagi signed a two-year contract with the Canberra Raiders starting in 2024, after gaining a release from the remainder of his Newcastle contract. [14] [15]
Sasagi played ten matches for Canberra in the 2024 NRL season as the club finished 9th on the table. [16]
Zane Tetevano is a professional rugby league footballer, who plays as a prop and loose forward in the National Rugby League. He has played for both the Cook Islands and New Zealand at international level.
Sam Mataora is a Cook Island professional rugby league footballer. He played for the Canberra Raiders and Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League. His positions were prop and second-row.
Joseph Leilua is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays centre for the Dapto Canaries in the Illawarra Cup.
Kyle O'Donnell is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He played at prop, second-row and lock and played for the Newcastle Knights and Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League. He is the younger brother of Australian international Luke O'Donnell.
Adam Clydsdale is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He plays as hooker for the Maitland Pickers in the Newcastle Rugby League. He previously played for the Newcastle Knights, Canberra Raiders and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL. Now captain coach of reserve grade scone. 2022
Junior Paulo is a Samoan international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or fullback for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL) and New Zealand at international level.
Joseph Tapine is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who captains and plays as a prop or lock for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League (NRL), and for New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori at international level.
Solomone Kata is a professional dual-code rugby footballer who plays as a wing for Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers and the Tonga national team.
Daniel Levi is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for New Zealand, New Zealand Māori and Samoa at international level.
Chris Smith is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward and lock for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is a professional rugby league footballer from New Zealand who plays as a fullback for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for the Cook Islands, New Zealand, and the New Zealand Māori at international level.
Tevita Pangai Junior is an Australian professional rugby league footballer and former professional boxer who plays as a prop for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, Penrith Panthers, and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL and for Tonga and New South Wales at representative level.
Joseph Manu is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre, fullback, winger or five-eighth for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL), and New Zealand at international level. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest centres in the game.
Mafoa'aeata "Ata" Hingano is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a scrum-half, stand-off or hooker for the York Knights in the Betfred Championship.
Enari Tuala is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who last played as a winger or centre for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Briton Nikora is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL, and New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori at international level.
Bradman Best is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Starford To'a is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League (NRL).
The 2020 Newcastle Knights season was the 33rd in the club's history. Coached by Adam O'Brien and captained by Mitchell Pearce, they competed in the NRL's 2020 Telstra Premiership. On 23 March, the NRL announced that the season would be suspended after round 2, until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NRL returned on 28 May with a new draw, the Knights' round 3 game coming on 31 May against the Penrith Panthers. The Knights finished the regular season in 7th place, thus reaching the finals but were knocked out after losing to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in week 1.