Rex 'Moose' Mossop

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Rex Peers Mossop
Nickname(s)
Moose
Born
Saturday, 18th February, 1928
Died
Friday, 17th June, 2011 (Aged 83 years and 119 days)
Place Of Birth
Five Dock, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Dual international forward brought a wealth of football experience to his career as an outspoken commentator. Rex 'The Moose' Mossop played the game in bull-like fashion and similarly, pulled no punches in his long and controversial career in the media. A product of the Manly RU club, he played in five RU Tests against NZ and England during 1949-51 before turning professional to play in England with Leigh. Mossop proved himself in the home of forward play, taking part in a Challenge Cup final and winning the 1952 premiership final. Exceedingly loyal, there was only ever one club Mossop was going to play for on his return to Australia. His six seasons with the Sea Eagles produced 9 Test appearances and he was named vice-captain on the 1959-60 Kangaroo tour. He played in two grand final losses against St George (1957 & 1959) and was sent off in the latter match after an ugly incident with St George forward Harry Bath. Mossop's final rep honour came with selection in the 1960 World Cup. After his retirement he fronted his own sports program on Channel 7 for over 20 years with 'Controversy Corner' becoming the staple diet of rugby league fans. Mossop was an original and his gift for tautology has passed into the Australian idiom. The colourful commentator left the station in 1986 for a highly controversial period with Channel 10 before his contract was cancelled in 1990. In 1993 he was enjoying an ‘Indian summer’ to his career with Channel 9 when he was again sacked. Not one to suffer fools gladly, cantankerous and forthright to the end, Mossop was given Life Membership to the NSWRL in December 1999. Autobiography, The Moose that Roared (1991).
- ALAN WHITICKER

Additional Notes

Originally played rugby union and played eight Tests for the Wallabies, before joining Leigh in the UK in 1951. After his retirement he became a television commentator.
He was awarded life membership of the NSWRL in 1999, and received the Australian Sports Medal the following year.
Mossop suffered from Alzheimer's disease in the years before his death.

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
European Championship 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List
NRL 129 11 -   - 33 65 59 5 50.39% List
Country Carnival 1 2 -   - 6 1 0 0 100.00% List
City vs Country Firsts 2 - -   - - 2 0 0 100.00% List
Interstate Matches 6 - -   - - 5 1 0 83.33% List
NRL Finals 8 1 -   - 3 3 5 0 37.50% List
Tour Matches New South Wales Firsts 2 - -   - - 0 2 0 0.00% List
Test Series 9 1 -   - - 4 5 0 44.44% List
The Ashes 6 1 -   - 6 2 4 0 33.33% List
Tour Matches Australia 14 3 -   - 9 8 6 0 57.14% List
World Cup 3 - -   - - 2 1 0 66.67% List
Craven Mild Cup 10 1 -   - 3 6 3 1 60.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Other 1953 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List
Australia 1958-60 13 3 -   - 9 7 6 0 53.85% List
Overall1953-1960 15 3 0   0 9 8 7 0 53.33% List

International Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1958-1960 1 1 -   - 3 1 0 0 100.00% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1958-1960 3 - -   - - 2 1 0 66.67% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Metropolis 1957, 1960 2 - -   - - 2 0 0 100.00% List
NSW Firsts 1957-60 8 - -   - - 5 3 0 62.50% List
NSW City Firsts 1957, 1960 2 - -   - - 2 0 0 100.00% List
NSW City Seconds 1958, 1961 2 - -   - - 1 0 1 50.00% List
Overall1957-1961 14 0 0   0 - 10 3 1 71.43% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Manly NSWRFL 1956 12 1 -   - 3 3 6 3 25.00% List
Manly NSWRFL 1957 19 5 -   - 15 11 7 1 57.89% List
Manly NSWRFL 1958 15 2 -   - 6 8 7 0 53.33% List
Manly NSWRFL 1959 17 1 -   - 3 12 5 0 70.59% List
Manly NSWRFL 1960 12 1 -   - 3 7 5 0 58.33% List
Manly NSWRFL 1961 19 1 -   - 3 10 9 0 52.63% List
Manly NSWRFL 1962 18 - -   - - 7 10 1 38.89% List
Manly NSWRFL 1963 17 - -   - - 7 10 0 41.18% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Manly 1956-63 129 11 -   - 33 65 59 5 50.39% List

Your Say

  • Anonymous
    28/10/2009

    Rex Mossop played 136 games for Manly.

  • Rusty
    27/10/2015

    Love him or hate him, the Moose cannot be ignored. Sportcasting needs such giant characters as Rex and Frank Hyde.

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Contributions: Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Rugby League Tables, Greg Fiveash, Alan Katzmann, Max Turner, Bill Bates