Hull KR will provide stricken captain Mose Masoe with a live feed of their Super League matches this year to keep the former NRL player in touch with the team from his hospital bed.
The 30-year-old Samoan prop continues to be treated for a serious spinal injury, suffered in a pre-season friendly, which has brought his career to a sudden and tragic end.
Masoe was appointed Rovers captain, alongside Weller Hauraki, before both were injured a fortnight ago in the same game at Wakefield.
The former Sydney Roosters’ and Penrith prop will continue to inspire his teammates, according to coach Tony Smith.
“Mose has been such a big part of our group,” Smith said. “He is still our captain and he’s sending messages from his hospital bed to wish the team well for the start of the season.
“And he’ll continue to do those sort of things throughout the season.
“We’ll give him a live feed to the games so he can watch and give us messages, pre- and post-game.
“All the players remain very close to him.”
Hull KR and Masoe, having also played for St Helens, have been overwhelmed by the response to a fund set up to help him and his young family.
League sponsors Betfred announced at Friday’s season launch that it would donate the STG250 ($A479) man-of-the-match award at televised matches in 2020 to Rob Burrow, who is battling motor neurone disease, and add an identical second prize to the Masoe fund.
“When things like this happen, we do come together like one big community,” said Smith, who believed the loss of the popular front-rower would galvanise his players.
“It’s what you do. After your own family, it’s your next family and you look out for one another, you inspire one another and help one another when it’s tough.
“In my time, I’ve never had to deal with an injury or adversity like this one but I’ve got to say the spirit of the players been exceptional.”
In the absence of Masoe and Hauraki, who will be out for up to three months with an ankle injury, Smith has handed the captaincy to new signing Shaun Kenny-Dowall, another former Rooster.
The ex-New Zealand international says the team will be playing for Masoe in 2020.
“Obviously, I didn’t plan on that coming my way but I’ll be doing as much as I can for the boys,” he said.
