Ex-Super League forward cut from NRL club’s top 30 but lands new role

One former Super League forward has been cut from his NRL club’s top 30 roster shortly after being handed a contract extension.

Former Salford Red Devils and Warrington Wolves powerhouse forward Ben Murdoch-Masila has been left out of St George Illawarra Dragons’ top 30 squad but has been granted a ‘supplementary list contract’ for the 2025 season.

Murdoch-Masila was among long list of NRL players out of contract at the end of the 2024 season and he was one of the more high-profile names on that list as well.

With no confirmation of retirement, it was unknown what his status would be for the 2025 campaign but that has been confirmed now with the Dragons announcing that he will be on their Supplementary List for the season.

NRL clubs have to name a Top 30 which must fall within the salary cap and it is that squad that they head into the season with. They also name a Supplementary List, formerly called a Development List and players on that can earn up to $80,000 per year.

Former Super League forward lands new NRL role

It’s now confirmed that the out-of-contract former Super League man has had a new contract handed to him as St George retains him on their Supplementary List.

That’s despite the fact the club have yet to fill out their Top 30 with one spot still remaining. The Dragons have had a busy off-season with the exit of star Ben Hunt but his loss has been softened by the addition of a new spine in Lachlan Ilias, Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook, whilst Valentine Holmes is another handy addition.

Such big spending could have contributed to Murdoch-Masila being demoted to the Supplementary List, however, at 33 it could also be his age.

He played 14 games in 2024 but in the club statement confirming his status for 2025, they explained that he ‘begins to transition into a post-playing career’.

That would likely indicate that 2025 could be his final year meaning we won’t see BMM in Super League anymore.

He first joined the competition in 2016 with Salford Red Devils where he made a massive impact, moving onto join Warrington who he represented in two Challenge Cup Finals and one Grand Final.

Across his five seasons in England, he registered over 100 Super League appearances and a further 15 in the Challenge Cup where he scored an impressive ten tries. He would also score in the famous Million Pound Game when Salford defeated Hull KR.