St Helens’ star recruit Mose Masoe will miss the start of Super League season through injury but coach Nathan Brown expects him to lead their charge for honours in 2014.
Brown is adopting the policy of his former club Huddersfield, the 2013 league leaders, in going for size and believes the addition of the 6ft 6in, 127kg Masoe, alongside fellow recruits Rich Beaumont, who is 6ft 3in and weighs 101kg, and Kyle Amor, 6ft 2in and 101kg, will provide his side with one of the most intimidating packs in the competition.
“Last year we had a lot of good front-rowers but a lot of them were more lower centre of gravity,” Brown said. “We felt we lacked a bit of size.”
Saints paraded their new signings, who also include Masoe’s former Penrith Panthers NRL teammate, halfback Luke Walsh, at the first Super League club pre-season media day at Langtree Park.
Masoe, who made a big impact with his rampaging runs and crunching tackles for Samoa in the recent World Cup, revealed he defied injury to play in the last two fixtures after damaging ankle ligaments against France.
He recently underwent surgery and is expected to sit out St Helens’ opening fixture against Warrington on February 13 and the opening home game against Hull but should be fit to make his Super League debut in March.
“The club didn’t want to take the risk of having it done during the middle of the year so I had quick surgery just before the New Year and I should be back hopefully two weeks into the season,” Masoe said.
Masoe, who is set to be a regular on the bench, believes his blockbusting style of play will be suited to Super League and, with his charming Polynesian smile, is expected to become a fans’ favourite.
“I’m not the fittest player but I’ll give it my all when I get on the field,” said the former Sydney Roosters prop.
Brown brought in Masoe, as well as Beaumont from Hull KR and Amor from Wakefield, following the departure of Josh Perry and Tony Puletua.
Saints, who recovered from a disastrous first half of 2013 to finish fifth in Brown’s first season, are expected to once more challenge for honours and have been installed third favourites to win the grand final behind arch rivals Wigan and Warrington.
