No other player in the NRL has the kind of impact Sam Kasiano does off the Bulldogs bench

SAM Kasiano is Canterbury’s 126kg heavyweight super sub that threatens to leave St George Illawarra fans with even heavier hearts on Friday night.

Sam Kasiano is currently the game’s best bench player.

SAM Kasiano is Canterbury’s 126kg heavyweight super sub that threatens to leave St George Illawarra fans with even heavier hearts on Friday night.

No other player in the NRL has the kind of impact Kasiano does off the Bulldogs bench.

And if the out-of-sorts Dragons were looking for some respite after trying to stop the likes of James Graham and David Klemmer in the early exchanges at ANZ Stadium, the last person they will want to see is the biggest Dog of all charging into them with a fresh set of legs.

Kasiano, who weighed 139kg at the start of pre-season, continues to run for an amazing amount of metres in the limited game time he gets.

Sam Kasiano is tackled by Jason Taumalolo.

According to Fox Sports Stats, he averages 83m in just 30 minutes on the field. He has also proved a game changer with 15 tackle busts and a staggering 28 offloads in 2016.

“We find a new life when he comes on,’’ Klemmer said.

“He gets on there and it erupts with his big frame and quick play-the-balls and offloading abilities. It’s extraordinary. I’m so lucky he’s in our team and I don’t have to tackle him.

“Come the back end of the season he can win us a game. He’s got the big body, the big beard ... he’s skilful and can throw balls out of his bum.’’

Josh Reynolds said Kasiano had been close to the club’s best over the past month, where they won four straight before last week’s shocker against North Queensland.

“There’s a period where the forwards of each team slog it out, but he has one or two runs and it changes the game,’’ Reynolds said.

“If Sammy is happy doing that, I’m definitely happy having him come in and do that. I just base my game around him now, and sniff around wherever he is.

Sam Kasiano is currently the game’s best bench player.

“It’s tough because he probably wants to start, as everyone does, but he’s just doing what he needs to do for the team. I take my hat off to him because he’s never grumpy about it, and he comes on, rips in, has a breather and then does it all again.’’

Aiden Tolman, who looks like a winger next to Kasiano, added: “Just about every time he comes on, he either creates a try, gets a penalty or gets us in good field position to attack.

“He’s been doing that really well. I think that role coming off the bench is such an important part of our game now. With the limited interchange, those guys can come on and really do some damage.’’

Meanwhile, Klemmer revealed Jim Dymock, the Dogs’ assistant coach — and a former NSW and Kangaroos teammate of St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor — had been helping him adjust to the role of lock forward.

While there was not much difference in the roles between the front-rowers and locks in the modern game, Klemmer said Dymock had worked with him on defence and his ball playing.