Mose Masoe
A gentle giant of rugby league whose career was tragically cut short, inspiring a global fundraising effort for his recovery.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Former Samoa international rugby league footballer·Birthday: May 17·Millennials
Biography
Samoa-born Mose Masoe was a formidable prop whose powerful frame and warm personality made him a beloved figure in rugby league clubs across England and Australia. Standing well over six feet tall and weighing over 120 kilograms, he played for the Sydney Roosters, Penrith Panthers, and St Helens before finishing his career with Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League. In January 2020, a routine pre-season tackle left him with a catastrophic spinal injury, paralyzing him from the chest down. His courageous battle for rehabilitation, supported by his young family, sparked an outpouring of support from the rugby community worldwide, turning his story into one of resilience far beyond the pitch.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Mose was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mose Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Mose's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2013 NRL Premiership with the Sydney Roosters.
- Lifted the 2014 Super League trophy with St Helens.
- Represented Samoa on the international stage, including at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
- His injury and recovery led to the 'Mose Masoe Appeal,' raising significant funds for his care and spinal injury research.
Did You Know?
He was working as a bouncer at a Sydney nightclub when he was offered his first professional contract with the Roosters.
After his injury, he regained some movement in his arms and hands through intensive therapy.
He and his wife, Carissa, have three children.
“I played the game hard, and the game hit back harder. But I'm still here.”
