But don't worry if you're a footy fan who's never heard of big Sam Kasiano - you will.

Very soon.

Out Belmore way, they're already saying this man-mountain Kiwi - who, at 20, stands at 196cm and tips the scales at a whopping 118kg - could be anything.

"Better than Willie?" we asked one good judge, who's seen a fair bit of big Sam play.

"Please," was the response. "He plays Willie off the break at the same age - and he's bigger.

"The best I've seen in a long time ... best since Darren Britt."

We really didn't want to mention Sonny Bill so let's just say that big Sam is going to be big.

Though he isn't the only young gun earning huge wraps in Club Land.

So, as rugby league fans get excited ahead of this weekend's opening trial matches, The Daily Telegraph yesterday went searching for the best young stars in our game most of us know very little about. Already, some have made it in first grade, some haven't. But one thing they have in common is potential - now all they need is the right blend of attitude to take the next step.

Sam Kasiano (Bulldogs)

Remember how Storm superstars Billy Slater and Cameron Smith couldn't crack it for a start with the Broncos when they were kids?

Well, big Sam comes to you via the same production line.

"The Broncos had him and didn't rate him," Bulldogs recruitment chief Peter Mulholland explained.

The story goes Kasiano was playing at Brisbane Norths when he jumped on a plane and headed down for a Bulldogs trial against the Tigers.

"We didn't let him back on the plane," Mulholland recalled.

And after dropping 10kg since arriving, 118kg Sam is now one of the quickest forwards over both sprint and endurance distances at the club.

Throw in the fact he's a ball- playing prop and you're starting to understand why Canterbury can't wait to see how he goes in the upcoming trials.

James Roberts (Rabbitohs)

OK, he's not as big as big Sam, but boy, can this little Rabbit run.

At 17, Roberts is the nephew of former NRL star Amos Roberts, who burst on to the Toyota Cup scene towards the end of last year. In just eight games, he scored 11 tries.

"Unbelievable on his feet," was one line that summed up this wonderful talent.

But at 17 is he still too young to play NRL in 2011?

Our spies tell us it's not a matter of if, but when.

The teenager has already made a huge impression on some of the most influential figures in the game.

Kalifa Faifai-Loa (Cowboys)

Turned 21 last Saturday, Kalifa joins the Cowboys from the Dragons after making the most tackle breaks last year in Toyota Cup. On top of that, in only two first-grade appearances, Kalifa scored two tries and made a staggering 41 carries for 325m.

But with the Dragons boasting such established superstars as Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Brett Morris and Jason Nightingale, Kalifa packed his bags and headed to Townsville.

Legend has it Wayne Bennett once asked the kid with the wild Afro: "Do you think you're gunna play first grade with hair like that?"

To which Kalifa replied: "Probably not." "Definitely not," Bennett said.

So Kalifa got himself a haircut - and now he runs even faster.

Kyle O'Donnell (Knights)

They reckon he's just like his big brother Luke - only not quite as mad.

Which is probably a good thing, given Luke's fiercest enemy while in Australia was the judiciary.

Kyle made the 2010 Junior Kangaroos - and online Sharks fans were livid the club let him go.

Daniel Harrison (Sea Eagles)

Hails from Ourimbah on the Central Coast - the same town that gave us NSW country rugby league's oldest team. And the word on Harrison is that he gives the future a taste of the good old days.

A former Bulldogs Toyota Cup player of the year and captain, he's now over some serious injuries and looking to play first grade with the Sea Eagles in 2011.

Dane Gagai (Broncos)

The son of former Bronco Ray Gagai, the talk in Brisbane is that this great Dane could well fill the void left by the departure of Israel Folau and Antonio Winterstein.

Gagai was the Broncos' Toyota Cup back of the year last year scoring 13 tries from fullback, but he might be forced to shift to the wing to play top grade - given his cousin, Josh Hoffman, has a firm grip on the club's No. 1 jumper.

Jacob Loko (Eels)

Plays in the centres but could well end up in the back-row.

For some strange reason has the nickname Lokomotive on the Parramatta website. He started off 2010 in S G Ball but by season's end was being hailed as a top-17 player.

Cameron King (Dragons)

You might recall this kid played the final NRL club game for the Dragons last year before the finals in the game against South Sydney.

A Junior Kangaroo with a ton of pace who, following the retirement of Luke Priddis, could be set to share the hooking role with Nathan Fien.

The 19-year-old's greatest claim to fame to date was winning the Val Lembit Memorial Trophy in 2009 for the most outstanding sportsman in NSW, awarded by Combined High Schools and previously won by Ian Thorpe.

Word is Cameron doesn't swim as fast as Thorpie, but would lap him on the footy field any day of the week.

Beau Henry (Knights)

Young halfback coming off a shoulder reconstruction in 2010 while playing for the Dragons.

He was recommended to Newcastle by one A. Johns.

Enough said.