Playing Career
Summary
Vital Statistics
- Nickname(s)
- El Magic
- Born
- Thursday, 1st April, 1976
- Current Age
- 47 years and 61 days
- Place Of Birth
- Tripoli, Lebanon
Awards & Accolades
- Ken Stephen Medal
- 2002
Known Family Links
- Brother
- Samer El Masri
Biography
Exciting, unpredictable try-scoring winger, and a phenomenally consistent goal-kicker, has become a role model for a new generation of rugby league fans. The Bulldogs’ ‘Rookie of the Year’ in 1997, El Masri – a devout Muslim and a hard-working volunteer with Bankstown’s youth – was named the club’s Player of the Year in 2000 (he even had a local competition named after him). ‘El Magic’, as he is known to his fans, regularly shifted to the centres as well as filling in at fullback during the 2000 season. After captaining Lebanon in the 2000 World Cup, he finished the 2001 season by equalling Darryl Halligan’s club record of 270pts (his 19 tries also equalled the club record set by Chris Anderson in 1983 although this mark was bettered by Nigel Vagana the following year.) In 2002, the year the front-running Bulldogs were stripped of their competition points for rorting the salary cap El Masri made his only rep appearance to date when he landed four goals in Australia’s 32-24 win over NZ in October. The following year he kicked an Australian Rugby League record 35 consecutive goals (Bateley’s Barry Eaton kicked his 38th goal in a National League match in England on the same day). The leading point-scorer in consecutive seasons (2002-04) his 324pts (16t and a record 139g) in the Bulldogs’ premiership-winning 2004 season remains an individual points record that may never be bettered. However his value as a try-scorer (none better than the try to give the Bulldogs the lead in the 2004 grand final against the Roosters) should not be underestimated.
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 % | ||||
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NRL | 317 | 159 | 891 | - | 2418 | 182 | 128 | 7 | 57.41% | List | ||||
NRL Finals | 18 | 9 | 53 | - | 142 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 38.89% | List | ||||
World Cup | 3 | 3 | 6 | - | 24 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.00% | List | ||||
City vs Country | 6 | 1 | 14 | - | 32 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 66.67% | List | ||||
World Club Challenge | 1 | 2 | 4 | - | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00% | List | ||||
State of Origin | 1 | 1 | 3 | - | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | ||||
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Test Matches - By Team | ||||||||||||||
Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Lebanon | 1998-00, 2002-03 | 9 | 14 | 70 | - | 196 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 55.56% | List | |||
Australia | 2002 | 1 | - | 4 | - | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | |||
Overall | 1998-2003 | 10 | 14 | 74 | 0 | 204 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 60.00% | List | |||
World Cup Matches - By Team | ||||||||||||||
Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Lebanon | 1998-2000 | 3 | 3 | 6 | - | 24 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.00% | List | |||
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Australia - By Team | ||||||||||||||
Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
NSW City | 2001-05, 2007 | 6 | 1 | 14 | - | 32 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 66.67% | List | |||
NSW | 2007 | 1 | 1 | 3 | - | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | List | |||
Overall | 2001-2007 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 42 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 71.43% | List | |||
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NRL/NSWRL - By Year | ||||||||||||||
Team | Season | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Canterbury | ARL 1996 | 15 | 3 | - | - | 12 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 40.00% | List | |||
Canterbury | Super League 1997 | 19 | 16 | - | - | 64 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 52.63% | List | |||
Canterbury | NRL 1998 | 10 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 50.00% | List | |||
Canterbury | NRL 1999 | 24 | 14 | 9 | / | 12 | 75.00% | - | 74 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 62.50% | List |
Bulldogs | NRL 2000 | 26 | 10 | - | - | 40 | 10 | 15 | 1 | 38.46% | List | |||
Bulldogs | NRL 2001 | 28 | 19 | 97 | / | 130 | 74.62% | - | 270 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 60.71% | List |
Bulldogs | NRL 2002 | 24 | 12 | 103 | / | 128 | 80.47% | - | 254 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 83.33% | List |
Bulldogs | NRL 2003 | 27 | 9 | 129 | / | 150 | 86.00% | - | 294 | 17 | 10 | 0 | 62.96% | List |
Bulldogs | NRL 2004 | 28 | 16 | 139 | / | 167 | 83.23% | - | 342 | 22 | 6 | 0 | 78.57% | List |
Bulldogs | NRL 2005 | 18 | 11 | 68 | / | 80 | 85.00% | - | 180 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 50.00% | List |
Bulldogs | NRL 2006 | 26 | 17 | 114 | / | 132 | 86.36% | - | 296 | 17 | 9 | 0 | 65.38% | List |
Bulldogs | NRL 2007 | 25 | 10 | 85 | / | 105 | 80.95% | - | 210 | 11 | 14 | 0 | 44.00% | List |
Bulldogs | NRL 2008 | 21 | 7 | 51 | / | 66 | 77.27% | - | 130 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 19.05% | List |
Bulldogs | NRL 2009 | 26 | 14 | 96 | / | 117 | 82.05% | - | 248 | 19 | 7 | 0 | 73.08% | List |
Overall | 1996-2009 | 317 | 159 | 891 | / | 1087 | 81.97% | 0 | 2,418 | 182 | 128 | 7 | 57.41% | List |
NRL/NSWRL - By Team | ||||||||||||||
Team | Years | App | T | G | GK % | FG | Pts | W | L | D | Win % | |||
Canterbury | 1996-09 | 317 | 159 | 891 | / | 1087 | 81.97% | - | 2418 | 182 | 128 | 7 | 57.41% | List |
Your Say
Anonymous says: In my view the most under-rated player of all time. One of the game's highest points scorer yet only one state of origin selection... Maybe if his name had been John Smith he'd not have been overlooked and NSW could have won more series. (23/05/2012)
Daz says: A champion in more ways than one,a role model to all. (16/06/2012)
Kevin says: One of the greatest sportsman to wear a rugby league jersey. A true champion and roll model for the younger generation. To meet this gentleman was an honour. (18/08/2014)
Bilal says: Played with his soccer in 1992/1993. Very good soccer player a a top footy player. Best goal kicker of all time in my opinion (14/08/2015)
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