Hazem El Masri Announces his Retirement

Club legend Hazem El Masri’s boots impossible to fill

NOT so long ago, more cameras spelt more problems for the Bulldogs. It seemed the only light at Belmore Oval through the recent murk of salary cap rorts, sex scandals and player atrocities emanated from the ever-present bank of flash bulbs stationed outside training.

But there was another light inside the rusted barbed wire fence that continued to shine no matter how dark the club’s plight became. And although he has finally flicked the switch on a magnificent career, it’s unlikely time will ever dim Hazem El Masri’s contribution to rugby league.

For the first time in many years, more cameras meant more kudos for the Bulldogs. They rolled into Belmore Oval just after noon yesterday, the lush green surface punctuated by as many - if not more - tripods that marked any bad Dogs story of the past decade.

Official Tribute Book: leave your best wishes for El Masri here

The set was ready half-an-hour before El Masri’s 1pm curtain call. Virtually every current Bulldogs player sat in the old grandstand next to the tunnel, each of them wearing commemorative white “El Magic” caps. Behind them - in an unfashionable tracksuit and almost unrecognisable - was former Leagues Club president Barry “Punchy” Nelson.

Down on the field, two of the greatest Bulldogs were gracing the very same turf that sowed their legendary blue and white seeds. Just a fortnight after making peace with the club in Brisbane, Steve Mortimer appeared in a sports coat.

“Turvey” was followed by former halves partner Terry Lamb, the pair sharing a joke about Mortimer’s sizeable schnoz.

They say time waits for no man, but El Masri has a blessed knack of making it stand still for him. Each weekend, he is the last Bulldog to take to field. At each training session, he is last player to leave. On each away trip, he is the last player to board the bus.

And so El Masri was the last to arrive yesterday, emerging from the same tunnel through which he entered top flight rugby league more than 15 years ago. Instead of training gear, he wore a suit. Instead of a kitbag, his wife Arwa and three children were at his side. And instead of cheergirls, he walked through a guard of honour formed by his applauding team mates.

What the 33-year-old had to say was no more surprising than another sideline conversion from the best boot in the business. El Masri had known it himself since the start of the year. Arwa cottoned-on when she gazed into her husband’s face soon afterwards and noticed “something in his eyes”.

Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg and coach Kevin Moore found out in April. His closest friends and family were told at a private dinner three weeks ago. The media knew it then as well, but on the whole respected El Masri’s wish to announce his departure on his own terms.

It was read from a folded piece of paper dug out of his trouser pocket, a speech that was every bit as humble as the man who wrote it.

“Rugby league is the greatest game in the world and today I’m very sad to announce I’ll be retiring at the end of the season,” El Masri read.

“It’s been such a wonderful adventure for the past 15 years. I’ve been living a dream.

“But my mind and body are telling me the time is right.”

The truth is that time has been kind to El Masri’s ageing body, granting his fragile hamstrings another season to achieve two deserved milestones: his 300th first grade game and the all-time point-scoring record. Time will now tell whether it’s magnanimous enough to deliver El Masri an equally-deserved farewell on Grand Final night that would rank alongside the shining exits of Royce Simmons, Shane Webcke, Ray Price and Mick Cronin.

“I knew from the beginning of the year (I was going to retire),” he said.

“It was just a matter of timing and I wanted to prove a point again.

“We had a disappointing year (in 2008) and with the new signings and coach I wanted to step it up a level and go out on a high. Go out on my terms.”

He will continue on them, too. Greenberg and the El Masris met with NRL boss David Gallop almost two weeks ago at league headquarters to discuss a post-football reward for a man who has consistently saved face for not only the Bulldogs - but the entire game - through recent turmoil.

It’s likely he will work in community relations, spreading rugby league’s gospel to the same kids he has inspired since debuting in 1996.

“I would like to be remembered off the field, bring people together and making a difference to their lives,” El Masri said. “I’m in a unique position and I thank God for putting me in that position.”

Arwa added: “It’s not the end for Hazem El Masri - it’s a new beginning. He’s capable of doing anything he puts his mind to.”

How else can you explain El Masri, the immigrant kid who was supposed to play soccer ticking every imaginable box rugby league has to offer? Look no further than the cameras at Belmore yesterday, all focused on the game’s guiding light.