OFFICIAL Heath Mason #288 [Signs with Perth Bears]

[Tucker]

This kid can play, has heart and is tough.
He is also not a first grade fullback.
I’d like to see more of him but not sure where….maybe he can be reinvented as a Shaun Berrigan styled centre?

 

[Merlot]

This kid can play, has heart and is tough.
He is also not a first grade fullback.
I’d like to see more of him but not sure where….maybe he can be reinvented as a Shaun Berrigan styled centre?

if he wont go high send him low?hooker. lock

 

[Winston Churchill]

This kid can play, has heart and is tough.
He is also not a first grade fullback.
I’d like to see more of him but not sure where….maybe he can be reinvented as a Shaun Berrigan styled centre?

Yeah its a tough one, the kid clearly isnt a fullback, he can play but i dont know where he can play. I get what you are saying ala Berrigan but i think that player style 20 years ago is gone, centres these days are Crichton, Suaalii, Manu, Campbell bodies, Mason would be rag-dolled in the centres in attack and defence. Just like the Tigers of the naughties, Ben Galea, Senter, Kapow, O'Neill, they are tiny compared to todays players. I think Mason was born 20 years late.

 

[Tucker]

Yeah its a tough one, the kid clearly isnt a fullback, he can play but i dont know where he can play. I get what you are saying ala Berrigan but i think that player style 20 years ago is gone, centres these days are Crichton, Suaalii, Manu, Campbell bodies, Mason would be rag-dolled in the centres in attack and defence. Just like the Tigers of the naughties, Ben Galea, Senter, Kapow, O'Neill, they are tiny compared to todays players. I think Mason was born 20 years late.

That’s probably true…but he does have that zip to get past them and I think he can handle being hit. He isn’t afraid to tackle either. Don’t know….he may end up being a good player we reluctantly let go who thrives elsewhere.

 

[innsaneink]

He has plenty of ticker... One gutsy little bloke and a bit of toe as well
Tough night last night clearly playing injured too
Hold your head high Heath Mason... Use some more sticky stuff on your hands tho

 

[tigerbenji]

Felt sorry for him last night & I agree, he isn't a fullback, maybe a 5/8 in the making & he has a ton of guts.

 

[BAGNF05]

Needs a full season in a better second grade team.

 

[weststigerman]

From what I’ve seen he's a 6 not a fullback and a couple of years away from NRL.

 

[Telltails]

He has got ticker - he is already ahead of plenty and worth persisting with.

 

[watersider]

I wouldn't give up on him as a fullback yet. Did he miss more than that one bomb? That was a terrific kick that would have made many look bad, it was huge and perfectly placed. I know there were other errors too but he is also very busy and threatening and puts himself in good places. Even before Api came off he got into dummy half and every run looks sharp. Bula doesn't do that as well as him. Where Bula tends to glide, Mason has a darting running style. I'm not criticising Bula for that, just Mason often looks more threatening.

He needs to work on defensive positioning and catching, where he's very raw in both areas, but you can at least forgive those given his inexperience...for now. His effort on a rampaging sivo, where the rest of the team ran away scared, was one of the highlights of the night and shows he has guts. Given he has, in my opinion, that special quality of guts, versatility and acceleration I'd have him somewhere in my 17 for certain. The focus on his size is unwarranted in my opinion and while he's made poor errors that is just a quintessential consequence of inexperience. He's just a player you can throw into a match in multiple positions and he looks like he'll do something. Invaluable.

 

[boonboon]

He is 19 and is good for a kid. Will get better with time and will be better from more time in Flegg, NSW cup next year. Remember he isn't even top 30 next year

 

[king_sirro]

He is 19 and is good for a kid. Will get better with time and will be better from more time in Flegg, NSW cup next year. Remember he isn't even top 30 next year

Sometimes, myself included, people forget just how young 19 is.

Mason consistently looks dangerous with the ball and has good involvement. Certainly he has flaws that he needs to work hard on, but by the time he is 21, 22, he will be a very good player.

 

[Vicious]

As others keep suggesting he’s very much in the Shaun Berrigan or Conner Watson mould.
Watson is a good player, but if he ends up even nearly as good as Shaun Berrigan we will have one hell of a player.
If we persist with him playing fullback in NSW Cup I’m sure he will develop the confidence to become confident under the high ball, but for the utility player we can see him developing into I think it’s better to play him mainly at 5/8 to keep developing his front line defence, running game and ball playing ability.
I’m glad to see the overall consensus acknowledges the kid is very tough, very willing and looks to have more than his fair share of talent.
10 tackle busts gives us a sneak peek of the class he possesses when running the ball.

 

[TV Ted Ellery]

From what I’ve seen he's a 6 not a fullback and a couple of years away from NRL.

I was going to say the same. He played 6 as a junior and has a decent passing and kicking game and that wicked step.

Turuva, Jamaica or Staines are safer options at fullback if Bula goes down.

 

[Newtown]

I'm thinking this guy is one of those footballers that will never truly make it but could be a huge asset if used correctly. I reckon we train this guy up at hooker. He then plays 14 covering every position in the backline, gives Api a rest when needed and also provides spark through the middle at lock for small periods.

I wish Benji had clear thoughts like that.

 

[Buttface]

Fullbacks shouldn’t be scared to catch the ball on the full.

 

[BAGNF05]

Fullbacks shouldn’t be scared to catch the ball on the full.

He’s a very nervy player who will benefit from a strong run of games in reserve grade I think.

 

[Milky]

Once he gets his ball handling right and stops dropping the ball he will be an exceptional player. Has natural ball playing instinct, good kicking game. Worth persisting with at FB in cup and seeing how Bula goes in FG over the next 2 years

Think he would make a gun 5/8 but we are stacked atm

 

[tiger_one]

Once he gets his ball handling right and stops dropping the ball he will be an exceptional player. Has natural ball playing instinct, good kicking game. Worth persisting with at FB in cup and seeing how Bula goes in FG over the next 2 years

Think he would make a gun 5/8 but we are stacked atm

Yes, like many of the team, they have been playing up a grade way too early, and will be better players in a season or two.

 

[Furious1]

Pulling out of the bomb was forgivable. The attempted tackle following it wasn't.
As has been said he has plenty of guts. Hopefully he gets more experience in the right grade to become the player he can be.