Heath Mason #288

‘Works really hard’: Brent Naden impressed by Wests Tigers young gun​

Story by Ethan Lee Chalk
• 21h•
2 min read
1746663916052.png

Wests Tigers open contract talks with young gun | Source: Supplied by Zero Tackle

Wests Tigers open contract talks with young gun | Source: Supplied by Zero Tackle© Zero Tackle
Wests Tigers veteran Brent Naden has backed teammate Heath Mason for a bright future in the NRL as the youngster runs off-contract at the end of the 2025 NRL season.

One of the next generation of players coming through the Wests Tigers system, Mason has continued to evolve his game over the past few years, which has seen him progress from the Harold Matthews Cup to the top grade, and he is only 19 years old.

Notable on the field for donning a white headgear, he has been likened to a Connor Watson-type player and has shown that he can exceed a high level.

This saw him named in the 2023 Australian Schoolboys squad alongside teammates Lachlan Galvin and Luke Laulilii.

Primarily used as a fullback during his time in the NRL, Mason has only been playing in the position for a couple of years, having grown up in the halves during his junior career but has excelled when given the opportunity to play in first-grade.

Speaking about Mason, Brent Naden backed the young utility back to be patient but believes that he will have a bright future in the NRL.

RELATED >> Heath Mason keen to cement utility role, speaks on future

"He works really hard. He is behind Jahream [Bula] but I think if he is patient, (then) his time will come," Naden said.

"He showed us last year what he can do and at the start of the season in Round 1 with his skills and talent

"He is a good young player. Good young kid and comes from a good family and hope we get him back on the paddock soon and I will be able to play some football with him."

One of seven players off-contract at the Wests Tigers, Mason recently spoke about his future to Zero Tackle, revealing that he would love to remain at the club where he has played eight matches since his debut in Round 15 last year against the Gold Coast Titans.

"Obviously want to get an extension there, so just want to keep playing some good consistent footy and hopefully that want to keep me around but we'll see what happens next," Mason told Zero Tackle.

"Making my debut last year, it all came pretty quick, but to get the opportunity, that's what you want to do as a kid, and it's a dream come true.

"Having all your family supporting you and to see them all happy and all the boys around you happy and to get the win on debut too was the best feeling ever.

"You can't explain it, and it was amazing, very special, and it was good to get a couple more games there towards the end of the season and hopefully just keep building and developing on my game, working on my flaws and just try and get better."
 

Forget Lachlan Galvin. His replacement absolutely loves Wests Tigers​

Christian Nicolussi

By​

Heath Mason was the standout No. 6 in the Australian Schoolboys Championships final in 2023.

That is a fair wrap when you consider the five-eighth on the losing side that day was none other than Lachie Galvin.

Galvin’s departure to Canterbury this week has paved the way for Mason to wear the No.6 jersey at the Wests Tigers for the first time.

Unlike Galvin, Mason is a Wests Magpies junior who loves the Tigers and wants to stay long term. So does Galvin’s good mate Tallyn Da Silva.

“He’s on until the end of 2026. Heath loves the club and doesn’t want to be anywhere else,” Mason’s agent Matt Desira said. “I’m actually excited to see how he goes in the No. 6 because he plays direct, and loves to dig into the line. I think he can dominate at NRL level.”

While he has played a handful of NRL games at fullback, Mason grew up playing in the halves and has the potential to be a star five-eighth. The parents, family and friends at that schoolboys final a few years back on a sunny afternoon in Redcliffe will attest to that.

Australian Schoolboys coach Tim White said Galvin may have been the best player at that tournament, but Mason was the pick of the five-eighths.

“Heath’s team ended up putting 40 points on Lachie’s side – he was certainly more dominant in that game,” White said. “I ended up picking him in the schoolboys team as a No.14, but he didn’t travel because of an injury.

“He’s very versatile, very instinctive, and he can play a number of positions because he is supremely coordinated – he has an innate ability to pop up anywhere and just play. There’s almost no need to coach Heath. He’s athletic and a natural footballer.”

Mason was a member of the Magpies’ Harold Matthews team that won the 2022 premiership. The side also featured Galvin, who started in the back row, as well as Da Silva and forward Kit Laulilii, with Mason the No.6.

“Heath could do a job for you anywhere on the football field,” said Stephen Isdale, a member of the Magpies’ coaching staff that year.

“He’s a natural runner, an eyes-up footballer, and if he sees an opportunity, he’ll take it or create something for those on his outside. He’s got a great right-foot step and played on the right. The year we won, we had Heath on the right, Lachie on the left, then Tallyn and Kit through the middle – we had threats all over the place.”

Footage of Galvin training at Belmore in Canterbury colours on Friday would have been welcomed by Tigers fans who have watched their team’s season virtually placed on hold since it emerged six weeks ago their young playmaker wanted to continue his career elsewhere.

Mason will try to make the most of his first five-eighth audition when the Tigers play North Queensland on Saturday evening. Latu Fainu is another supremely talented No. 6 option but has struggled with hamstring injuries and now a hand issue.
 
diedpretty said:

Forget Lachlan Galvin. His replacement absolutely loves Wests Tigers​

Christian Nicolussi

By​

Heath Mason was the standout No. 6 in the Australian Schoolboys Championships final in 2023.

That is a fair wrap when you consider the five-eighth on the losing side that day was none other than Lachie Galvin.

Galvin’s departure to Canterbury this week has paved the way for Mason to wear the No.6 jersey at the Wests Tigers for the first time.

Unlike Galvin, Mason is a Wests Magpies junior who loves the Tigers and wants to stay long term. So does Galvin’s good mate Tallyn Da Silva.

“He’s on until the end of 2026. Heath loves the club and doesn’t want to be anywhere else,” Mason’s agent Matt Desira said. “I’m actually excited to see how he goes in the No. 6 because he plays direct, and loves to dig into the line. I think he can dominate at NRL level.”

While he has played a handful of NRL games at fullback, Mason grew up playing in the halves and has the potential to be a star five-eighth. The parents, family and friends at that schoolboys final a few years back on a sunny afternoon in Redcliffe will attest to that.

Australian Schoolboys coach Tim White said Galvin may have been the best player at that tournament, but Mason was the pick of the five-eighths.

“Heath’s team ended up putting 40 points on Lachie’s side – he was certainly more dominant in that game,” White said. “I ended up picking him in the schoolboys team as a No.14, but he didn’t travel because of an injury.

“He’s very versatile, very instinctive, and he can play a number of positions because he is supremely coordinated – he has an innate ability to pop up anywhere and just play. There’s almost no need to coach Heath. He’s athletic and a natural footballer.”

Mason was a member of the Magpies’ Harold Matthews team that won the 2022 premiership. The side also featured Galvin, who started in the back row, as well as Da Silva and forward Kit Laulilii, with Mason the No.6.

“Heath could do a job for you anywhere on the football field,” said Stephen Isdale, a member of the Magpies’ coaching staff that year.

“He’s a natural runner, an eyes-up footballer, and if he sees an opportunity, he’ll take it or create something for those on his outside. He’s got a great right-foot step and played on the right. The year we won, we had Heath on the right, Lachie on the left, then Tallyn and Kit through the middle – we had threats all over the place.”

Footage of Galvin training at Belmore in Canterbury colours on Friday would have been welcomed by Tigers fans who have watched their team’s season virtually placed on hold since it emerged six weeks ago their young playmaker wanted to continue his career elsewhere.

Mason will try to make the most of his first five-eighth audition when the Tigers play North Queensland on Saturday evening. Latu Fainu is another supremely talented No. 6 option but has struggled with hamstring injuries and now a hand issue.
Click to expand...
Imagine after all this drama if mason ends up being a better NRL player than Galvin.

What was the reason he moved to #1 once he finished up in Harrold Matt's and school boys comp? Was he taking one for the team?
 
mtd#2 said:
Imagine after all this drama if mason ends up being a better NRL player than Galvin.

What was the reason he moved to #1 once he finished up in Harrold Matt's and school boys comp? Was he taking one for the team?
Click to expand...
Possibly - could see a log jam in the halves with the one who won't be named, Fainu and Sullivan ahead of him and no backup FB - maybe saw an opportunity there.
 
mtd#2 said:
Imagine after all this drama if mason ends up being a better NRL player than Galvin.

What was the reason he moved to #1 once he finished up in Harrold Matt's and school boys comp? Was he taking one for the team?
Click to expand...
Galvin ! …. And Moses ! They knew Heath was a gun , and able to excel in other positions/ willing to give it a go .
Something the crown prince of pencil necks was completely above !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Staff online

Members online

Total: 603 (members: 4, guests: 599)
Back
Top