Former NRL player Masada Iosefa named as man in fatal Darwin rural area quad bike crash

A MAN who died in a quad bike crash in the Darwin rural area has been identified as a former professional rugby league player who was meant to celebrate his birthday today

Masada Iosefa, pictured during his professional NRL playing days with the Penrith Panthers, was killed in a quad bike crash in Darwin’s rural area

A FORMER professional rugby league player who died hours before his birthday in a quad bike crash in the Top End has been remembered as a great teammate who was “tough as nails”.

Masada Iosefa, who would have celebrated his 33rd birthday yesterday, died in a quad bike crash in the Darwin rural area late on Monday night.

NT Police said initial investigations indicate a man on a quad bike had failed to negotiate a bend on McKinlay Road, Herbert before colliding with a guard rail and rolling the bike about 9pm on Monday.

Masada Iosefa takes part in a Penrith Panthers training session

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A passer-by came across the accident scene and alerted police and emergency services who responded to the incident.

The rider, who was not wearing a helmet, died at the scene.

Samoan-born Mr Iosefa made his NRL debut for the Penrith Panthers in 2008 and played 43 matches for the club before switching to the West Tigers in 2012.

He also represented Samoa in four tests from 2009 to 2013.

After his professional NRL career came to an end, Mr Iosefa settled in Rockhampton, Queensland where he was a youth worker.

Ia manuia lau malaga Masada Iosefa. Fly high uso 💙 pic.twitter.com/0Xj33Gaoks

— Toa Samoa (@RLSamoa) January 26, 2021

Former Penrith Panthers and Samoan teammate Frank Pritchard, in a tribute on social media, said “words can’t describe how I’m feeling right now”.

“Tough as nails, always went hard without any preservation for his body. Never took a step back to any situation,” he said.

“Always had my back from the get go. My lil uso may you fly high now and kick it till we meet again.”

Masada Iosefa playing with the Emu Park Emus

The North Queensland Cowboys’ Johnathan Thurston tackled by the Wests Tigers’ Masada Iosefa at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville

Former West Tigers teammate Keith Galloway said he was “shocked” to hear of the tragedy.

“You were hard as nails, and as rock solid as they come. It’s been a few years, but will always remember you bro! You were one of a kind,” he said.

The Rockhampton Brothers Rugby League Club, where Mr Iosefa had been a premiership player in 2020, described the loss as “tragic”.

“You were much loved and will be sorely missed,” the club said in a statement.

“Our thoughts and condolences to Masada’s family and all of his friends.”

St John Ambulance Territory duty manager Craig Garraway said ambulance officers were called to the scene of the accident about 9pm on Monday night.

“Paramedics and police arrived and, unfortunately, they found the male already passed away,” Mr Garraway said.

Police will now prepare a report for the coroner.

Originally published as Former NRL player Masada Iosefa named as man in fatal Darwin rural area quad bike crash