Bulldogs and former Kiwi league star Sam Kasiano isn’t the most romantic man on the planet. He knew he wanted to propose to his girlfriend of six years, Sandra Samau, more than anything on earth – and thanks to the countless hints she’d been dropping in the previous months, he knew she wanted a ring on her finger too.
But overcome with nerves, Auckland-born Sam – a prop for Aussie league team the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs – ended up popping the question to his partner, who was then eight months pregnant, while she was still at home in her pyjamas.
“We were watching TV and I turned around, and there he was with a ring,” smiles Sandra, 25, as she shows us the diamond stunner by Nesian Creations.
“I wasn’t on one knee ’cos they’re stuffed,” the 26-year-old sports star chimes in. “I’d wanted to do it for ages, but I was a bit shy. Then I thought, ‘No, just do it.’ I was supposed to wait until she’d had the baby, but I couldn’t wait. I took her to dinner afterwards, though!”
Now proud parents to Caleb, three, and one-year-old Carson, Sam and his fiancée are looking forward to their fairytale wedding next year, and they can’t quite believe how far they’ve come since first meeting at high school.
Both attended the same Brisbane college, but Sam was always too shy to ask beautiful Sandra out. A few years later, however, after moving to Sydney to chase his league dream, Sam saw her profile on Facebook and sent her a message. “I don’t know what made me do it,” he laughs. “I just thought I’d try my luck!”
“And I didn’t reply for ages,” says Sandra guiltily. “I didn’t really remember who he was! But I thought I’d meet him for a drink.”
After treating Sandra to a movie and McDonald’s, somehow Sam landed his prize – and the adorable pair have been together ever since. “She is the absolute best,” he says proudly, looking over at his fiancée as she runs around after Caleb and Carson on the lawn of their Sydney home. “She has my back all the time and gives me so much confidence. I do her head in all the time and she still looks after me! She’s just my girl.”
As for Sandra, she absolutely adores her fiancé, who she insists is “a big softie” despite his intimidating appearance. “He’s the best dad. He’s so loving and so caring. Oh, and he can sing!” “No, I can’t!” argues Sam, hiding his face with his hands. “She’s always stitching me up, this one.”
“Don’t lie – you sang Boyz II Men in high school!” replies Sandra, who was also born in New Zealand but moved to Australia when she was three.
Of course, the couple’s biggest priorities are their gorgeous boys, who were both born in Sydney. “Caleb’s a daddy’s boy,” tells Sam, giving his eldest son a high-five. “He’s happy doing his own thing.”
Picking up a mischievous Carson, he continues. “This one, he bullies Caleb. He’s always pulling his hair and trying to slap his brother. But they’re both great boys.” Then, watching as Caleb bounces an inflatable ball off a squealing Carson’s head, Sam confesses he doesn’t want his sons to follow in his footsteps because his career has seen him plagued by injuries.
“I’d prefer them not to go into league, to be honest,” he tells. “I don’t want them going through what I have – my knees, my ankles and my shoulder are all stuffed, and I’ve been sidelined a lot.”
Still, the sport remains Sam’s greatest passion, although he confesses it took a bit of convincing to get Sandra to become a Bulldogs fan after her years cheering on the Brisbane Broncos. “I still think she goes for them sometimes!” he says, winking.
“I do not!” Sandra laughs. “And even though I consider myself an Aussie, I go for the Kiwis too.” Sam himself is still a proud New Zealander, despite having lived across the ditch since he was a teenager. “Always, man,” he says. “I’ll always be a Kiwi. I love the All Blacks!”
Yet, for now, Sydney is his home and he’s stoked about it. Shaking his head as if he can’t quite believe his luck, Sam concludes, “I live in an amazing city, I have my boys, I’m playing for the club that I dreamed about when I was a kid and I’m about to marry my girl. I’m just so happy. Life is good!”
Auckland-born Sam Kasiano – a prop for Aussie league team the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs – ended up popping the question to his partner of six years, Sandra Samau, while she was still at home in her pyjamas!
“We were watching TV and I turned around, and there he was with a ring,” smiles Sandra, 25, as she shows us the diamond stunner by Nesian Creations.
After months of toying with the idea, Sam finally popped the question to his longtime love when she was eight months pregnant!
The Kiwi-born couple have their hands full with adorable action boys Carson (left) and Caleb.
Sam and his fiancée are looking forward to their fairytale wedding next year, and they can’t quite believe how far they’ve come since first meeting at high school, when shy Sam couldn’t work up the courage to ask her out.
A few years later, however, after moving to Sydney to chase his league dream, Sam saw her profile on Facebook and sent her a message.
Fast forward six years, and the couple are now living in Sydney. The whole family is looking forward to a romantic wedding in 2017.
“He’s the best dad. He’s so loving and so caring,” Sandra says of her fiance.
“I live in an amazing city, I have my boys, I’m playing for the club that I dreamed about when I was a kid and I’m about to marry my girl. I’m just so happy. Life is good!”
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