Murdoch-Masila playing important role for young Warriors

Warriors veteran Ben Murdoch-Masila understands better than most the importance of encouraging young rugby league players to open up and talk about their problems.

After experiencing the tragic suicide of his teammate and close friend Mosese Fotuaika in 2013, Murdoch-Masila has taken it upon himself to ensure his younger teammates have felt comfortable to discuss their issues during their extended stay in Australia.

And while much of the focus of the team’s homecoming this week has been on players and staff reuniting with partners and children, Murdoch-Masila said he’s particularly relieved for the younger members of the squad who in some cases had never spent time away from family and friends in Auckland. 

“I look over the young boys during the year and there has been a few boys who come and talk to me and say they are missing home,” Murdoch-Masila told NRL.com.

Some of these guys are fresh out of living with mum and dad, whereas some of the older boys got their families over there with them.

Ben Murdoch-Masila

“I have had my family in Redcliffe, but I feel for the young fellas.”

While mental health and wellbeing services are readily available at all NRL clubs, Murdoch-Masila said experienced players still have an important role to play in opening up conversations, especially when it comes to Polynesian athletes.

“Young Poly boys don’t speak much, so that’s the thing I am trying to get out of them when they need to speak,” Murdoch-Masila said.

“It’s good, it’s coming out, but they do tend to hide it a bit.

“Mosese was a guy like that.

“For me when I was coming up through the grades at the Wests Tigers there, I felt there was never really a person or player around to really take that role on.

“That sucked, because I went through some pretty bad stuff with Mosese and there was just no one there.

“So if I can do that now with these boys then they are a step ahead in life. If I can do that and change that then I have done my job.”

To this day, Mosese's photo still hangs in the gym of Wests Tigers with a sign that simply says "ask for help" — a poignant reminder of that harrowing moment in 2013 and the importance of providing an avenue for support. 

While Murdoch-Masila is set to be sidelined for at least the next two months after dislocating his elbow in Round 14, interim coach Stacey Jones said the 31-year-old will continue to play a key role for the club as they travel between New Zealand and Australia for the remainder of the 2022 season. 

“To have Benny around the group is like having a fatherly figure to those boys,” Jones said ahead of Sunday’s match against the Wests Tigers.

“Ben is part of our leadership group, he is really good mentor to our young boys, in particular the Polynesian boys, he’s been great for them.

“I know him and his wife (Brisbane Broncos NRLW forward Roxy Murdoch) have been making sure they are well looked after over in Redcliffe.

“Benny is looking after the young kids but he is also, from what I’ve seen, trying to get himself right, he wants to play some (more) footy this year.”