Hauraki won’t lose faith that Mose will defy doctors’ fears
EXCLUSIVE
HEROIC Mose Masoe will continue to act as Hull KR’s co-captain even though his career is over.
The former Samoa international has astonished doctors by the way he has defied the odds after being paralysed from the shoulders down in January.
He is learning to walk unaided and team-mates say his inspirational approach to his drastically changed life is driving them on.
Coach Tony
Smith has kept him on as co-captain and the team have an emotional ‘welcome back’ planned when he returns to the club.
His co-captain Weller Hauraki
(right) said:
“After his accident the kit guy asked if he should take
Mose’s stuff out of his locker for him. I told him, ‘You’re not taking anything out’.
“I said, ‘The only person who will do that is Mose when he walks back in and does it himself’.
“Everybody looked at me, clearly thinking that might not happen but I believed it 100 per cent.”
At the time Masoe, 31, was facing a grim future and doctors had warned he might never walk again following his injury in an innocuous tackle during a pre-season game.
But Hauraki said he refused to fear the worst after going to see his close mate in hospital the day after his horrific accident.
He said: “Everyone freaked out because he was being so positive but once I saw him and spoke to him I knew that nothing would stop him from walking again.
“It has been a long road for him but he is now walking around on crutches and we’re all so proud of him.
“It is inspirational to see and it will probably be emotional when he walks in and empties his locker.
“Tony has given him the job still as co-captain and he’s been sending lots of messages to the squad making sure we’re all right and positive about everything. “Even after everything he’s gone through he still thinks about other people first before himself. He is the most selfless man I have met.
“Ever since the season started it’s been in the back of all the players’ minds that we’re taking Mose out on the field with us in a way.
“When the season restarts, nobody will need reminding that we’re playing for him. He is still a massive part of our team.”
Rovers will restart the season against Toronto in the opening game of a triple-header at Headingley on August 2.
The four-month break due to the coronavirus crisis has helped the squad recover from an awful injury list that blighted their early season form.
They had a total of 15 players injured at various times before lockdown, leaving them with just one win from six league games.
But now Greg Minikin, plus Masoe, are the only ones unavailable when action resumes next month.
Hauraki said: “We are looking pretty healthy so the lockdown has helped us in the long run. We are fit and in good shape now.”