And now for something completely different

Wow.

What an interesting week it has been in the world of rugby league.

The ever changing, head-shaking story about the Dragons has been dominating the headlines.

While important to hear about, and crucial to reinforce that rules and laws must be followed, the roar from the crowd has been to change the subject. Talk about something else.

So, Lady League is here to do just that.

This month, the NRL and Sportsbet have teamed up again to complete ‘Try July’, a spin on the fundraising initiative ‘Dry July’.

After a try is scored in every match throughout July, players can do a post-try celebration.

For every dance or action that a player or team does after a four-pointer, Sportsbet are donating $5000 to the Men of League Foundation.

The foundation is a volunteer organsiation that helps men, women and children from the rugby league community with financial and emotional support during tough times.

This year the Men of League are collecting the donations on behalf of the Mose Masoe Appeal.

Try July has been set up to help Mose Masoe in his recovery (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Masoe was a big enforcer on the field, with an even bigger heart and smile off it. He played for the Roosters and the Panthers between 2008-2013, then moved to England in 2014 and played for St Helens and then the Hull Kingston Rovers.

In January 2020, Masoe’s life was turned upside down. While trying to complete a tackle, he suffered a severe spinal injury, and was rushed in for emergency surgery.

The prognoses was not looking good, with the very big possibility that Masoe would never walk again.

After more surgery, rehabilitation, and pure determination, four months after that fateful day, Masoe took his first steps.

Despite those positive few steps, Masoe and his family still have a very long road ahead of them. Masoe will never walk properly again, has lost feeling in his hands, as well as the control over his bowel and bladder.

His wife Carissa has become his full-time carer, as well as looking after their three young children.

On top of the massive physical toll the injury is taking, there is obviously a huge financial one as well.

Still over in England, both he and his wife are not citizens, so unable to receive usual benefits. To add to the stress, Masoe’s contract with Hull ends in November, and so does his Visa.

And the Super League insurance policy that Masoe is covered by is capped at only around $90,000, and they are unsure if he will receive the whole amount.

While they are looking at moving home to Australia, life for the family will never be the same.

But, like always, the rugby league community have come together over the past 18 months. They have rallied around Masoe and his family, giving support, gathering many donations and holding fundraisers.

This month’s ‘Try July’ is just another wonderful project to help the cause.

And the man himself is hoping by bringing his ordeal into the spotlight, he can help showcase the changes that need to be made so future players and their families don’t suffer.

So, in a week where negativity has taken up most of the space in the media and our discussions, let’s just move it aside for now. Let’s take a moment to celebrate and applaud the good and the positive.

To the Men of League Foundation. A wonderful group that we should all get behind and support so they can continue to do their amazing work and help those in need.

To Sportsbet. For getting ‘Try July’ off the ground again and donating the $5000 for every post-try celebration this month.

To the wider rugby league community. Whether it’s for Mose Masoe, Mark Hughes, Alex McKinnon, or the many other players, ex-players and their families who we will always get behind and support.

To Mose Masoe. For never giving up, staying positive, and using his story to try to help set up procedures in rugby league for those who are left in a very tough situation after a career ending injury.

And lastly, to the players. For shaking their tail feather, going fishing, being a fox, bowling like Shane Warne, and all the other post-try celebrations they have put on so far.

Seeing the players looking a bit silly and having a laugh at themselves for a great cause is awesome. I laughed so hard when Andrew Voss described Tom Trbojevic’s post-try celebration as looking like a “Thunderbird trying to dance”.

Just in Round 16 alone, $65,000 was raised. An extra big thank you to Manly and Melbourne for that total. Let’s see what the rest of the month can bring.

So, there you go. A completely different story for the week.

Just to remind you that for every group of 13 footy idiots, there are usually thousands of other wonderful people in rugby league, doing the right thing and supporting each other.