Warriors chief executive Cameron George on Warriors' shift to Australia. Video / Christopher Reive
When Ben Murdoch-Masila left Australia for the United Kingdom after the 2015 NRL season, he knew there was no guarantee he would play in the competition again.
Taking the opportunity to ply his trade in the Northern Hemisphere after six seasons in the NRL with the Wests Tigers and thePenrith Panthers, the Tongan forward told himself if the opportunity to play down under ever came again, he would take it.
In England, he became a cult hero during four seasons spent between the Salford Red Devils and the Warrington Wolves due to his strong play across the park and his knack for scoring tries, averaging a try every three games in the Super League.
His play in England saw him named in the Tongan squad that beat Australia in Auckland in 2019, and it was there he got the opportunity he had been waiting for; beginning conversations that eventually led to a three-year deal with the Warriors.
Ben Murdoch-Masila of Tonga takes a moment after his side's win over Australia in Auckland in 2019. Photo / Getty Images
For the Auckland-born forward, the decision was a no-brainer.
"I never thought I would be back in the NRL again," Murdoch-Masila said at the Warriors' base in Tamworth. "I said to myself if it did come around again, I'd take it straight away.
"I'm eager to test myself to see if I'm still capable. I know I am, so it'll be good."
Although an experienced head, Murdoch-Masila shied away from suggestions he would be cast into a leadership role with the club straight away.
While happy to share his knowledge with his new teammates, the 29-year-old said he was simply trying to earn his place in the team.
The battle for positions in the pack is going to be a hotly contested one at the Warriors this season. The club were busy in the player market and many of the new faces in the team are, like Murdoch-Masila, established talents.
With the likes of Kane Evans (117 NRL appearances) and Addin Fonua-Blake (97) also joining the already-established pack, game time will be at a premium.
Ben Murdoch-Masila joins the Warriors after a successful run in the English Super League. Photo / Getty Images
"I'm still learning," Murdoch-Masila said.
"I want to earn my keep; train well, get everything right and I'm sure things will fall into place. It's good to have competition in the team to push yourself and push others, and I think this kind of role I'll take on is to help other guys around the team as well.
"It's refreshing to have a lot of new faces, and it's good having old faces to lead us around and show us the ropes. I'm still learning myself and it's good to have those old guys around the team.
"I want to learn the ropes and earn my keep."
The Warriors linked up in Tamworth, New South Wales, last week as the Auckland-based members of the club flew out for what was expected to be at least a two-month stay across the Tasman.
The club will spend the next month in Tamworth going through their preseason preparations, before moving their operations to Terrigal on the Central Coast for the first four rounds of the NRL season with the hope of being able to return to Auckland for their fifth-round clash against Manly in early April.
