Martin Masella

Martin Masella (born 4 November 1969) is a Tongan former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He was a Tonga international and played at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.[2] Masella played for the Leeds Rhinos as a prop in their 1998 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Wigan Warriors. Masella captained Tonga in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.[3]

Martin Masella
Personal information
Full nameMartin Masella[1]
Born (1969-11-04) 4 November 1969
ʻEua, Tonga
Playing information
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight98 kg (15 st 6 lb)
PositionProp, Second-row, Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1991–94 Balmain Tigers 71 3 0 0 12
1995 Illawarra Steelers 10 2 0 0 8
1996 South Sydney 17 0 0 0 0
1998–99 Leeds Rhinos 44 1 0 0 4
2000 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 22 4 0 0 16
2001 Warrington Wolves 21 5 0 0 20
Total 185 15 0 0 60
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995–00 Tonga 5 1 0 0 4
Source: [2]

Background

Masella was born to factory workers.[4]

Playing career

Masella played in Australia for Balmain Tigers,[5] Illawarra Steelers and South Sydney before moving to England to play in the Super League for the Leeds Rhinos.[6] He was later awarded Leeds Rhinos heritage player number 1291.[7] After leaving the Rhinos, Masella played for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Warrington Wolves.[8]

In September 2000, at the height of a financial crisis at the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, the contracts of all players aged over 24 were terminated. The players affected were; Andy Fisher, Bobbie Goulding, Warren Jowitt, Tony Kemp (player-coach), Steve McNamara, Francis Maloney, Martin Masella, Steve Prescott, Bright Sodje, Francis Stephenson and Glen Tomlinson. Masella was one of a group of players who were awarded compensation from an industrial tribunal as a result of the dismissal.[9]

Masella came out of retirement to play for Tonga against Cumbria at the age of 36.[10]

References
  1. "Martin Masella". Companies House. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "The Teams: Tonga". BBC. 1 January 2000. Archived from the original on 10 November 2000. Retrieved 26 March 2008.
  4. Jackson, Glenn. "A league of their own: islanders provide NRL family with ample opportunity to cross the cultural divide". The Sydney Morning Herald. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  5. Kent, Paul. "NRL dismissal rule must keep pace with the evolution of the game". The Daily Telegraph. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  6. "Leeds' double signing". The Independent. The Independent. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  7. Daly, Phil. "Ever popular prop Masella catches up with Gary in Australia". Leeds Rhinos. Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  8. Whalley, John. "Wakefield are saved after creditors reach agreement". The Daily Telegraph. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  9. "Goodway calls for aid package". BBC. 24 April 2001. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  10. "Ex-Rhino Masella takes on the Cumbrians at 36". News and Star with the Cumberland News. News and Star with the Cumberland News. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
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