| Martin Masella | |
| Fullname: | Martin Masella[1] |
| Birth Date: | 1969 11, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | ʻEua, Tonga |
| Retired: | yes |
| Height: | 6feet |
| Weight: | 98kg (216lb) |
| Club1: | Balmain Tigers |
| Year1start: | 1991 |
| Year1end: | 94 |
| Appearances1: | 71 |
| Tries1: | 3 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Fieldgoals1: | 0 |
| Points1: | 12 |
| Year2start: | 1995 |
| Appearances2: | 10 |
| Tries2: | 2 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Fieldgoals2: | 0 |
| Points2: | 8 |
| Club3: | South Sydney |
| Year3start: | 1996 |
| Appearances3: | 17 |
| Tries3: | 0 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Fieldgoals3: | 0 |
| Points3: | 0 |
| Club4: | Leeds Rhinos |
| Year4start: | 1998 |
| Year4end: | 99 |
| Appearances4: | 77 |
| Tries4: | 4 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Fieldgoals4: | 0 |
| Points4: | 16 |
| Year5start: | 2000 |
| Appearances5: | 24 |
| Tries5: | 4 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Fieldgoals5: | 0 |
| Points5: | 16 |
| Club6: | Warrington Wolves |
| Year6start: | 2001 |
| Appearances6: | 27 |
| Tries6: | 5 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Fieldgoals6: | 0 |
| Points6: | 20 |
| Teama: | Tonga |
| Yearastart: | 1995 |
| Yearaend: | 00 |
| Appearancesa: | 5 |
| Triesa: | 1 |
| Goalsa: | 0 |
| Fieldgoalsa: | 0 |
| Pointsa: | 4 |
| Source: | [2] |
Martin Masella (born 4 November 1969) is a Tongan former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He was a Tonga international and played at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.[2] Masella played for the Leeds Rhinos as a in their 1998 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Wigan Warriors. Masella captained Tonga in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.[3]
Masella was born to factory workers.[4]
Masella played in Australia for Balmain Tigers,[5] Illawarra Steelers and South Sydney before moving to England to play in the Super League for the Leeds Rhinos.[6] He was later awarded Leeds Rhinos heritage player number 1291.[7] After leaving the Rhinos, Masella played for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Warrington Wolves.[8]
In September 2000, at the height of a financial crisis at the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, the contracts of all players aged over 24 were terminated. The players affected were; Andy Fisher, Bobbie Goulding, Warren Jowitt, Tony Kemp (player-coach), Steve McNamara, Francis Maloney, Martin Masella, Steve Prescott, Bright Sodje, Francis Stephenson and Glen Tomlinson. Masella was one of a group of players who were awarded compensation from an industrial tribunal as a result of the dismissal.[9]
Masella came out of retirement to play for Tonga against Cumbria at the age of 36.[10]