Author(s): Bill Woods

Sport

The 2009 season was a rollercoaster for Canterbury Bulldogs winger Hazem El Masri. Announcing his retirement at round 16 when the Bulldog's form promised them a grand final berth, Hazem was not let down by the team's stunning performance during the final series. The Bulldogs grand final win, and Hazem's own personal on-field brilliance was a deserving end for one of the NRL's most outstanding players. El Magic is the inspirational story of Hazem's success and dedication in the one of the nation's most beloved sporting codes. Hazem holds both club and NRL records including; the Bulldogs club career points record, the most points scored in a single match, the NRL point scoring record for a single season, and earlier in 2009 he became the all-time highest NRL career point scorer. Hazem's playing career has coincided with some of the most dramatic events in rugby league history - the Super League split of the mid-1990s and the Bulldogs' 2002 salary cap scandal. A devout Muslim, Hazem has also had to come to terms with the September 11 tragedy, the Bali bombings and the Cronulla riots, and their impact on his faith and the world around him. Throughout these controversies, which Hazem discusses frankly and passionately, the flying winger has become a role model both within the rugby league community and far beyond.