Heath Mason #288

[Tom Shines]

I have extreme doubt that a few of our high profile regular NRL players would even stand out at NSW Cup level.
NSW Cup is a place where you find unknown players can emerge and players not performing up to standard at NRL level should be going back to work on and fix their problem areas.
Credit needs tj be given when credit is due and Heath Mason has gone back to work on his game and has noticed improved his reliability under the high ball, noticeable improved his ball playing, link play and regained confidence in his biggest strength which is his running game.
Absolutely no guarantee that can be transferred to NRL level, but what’s the alternative keep selecting players that do not even stand out at NSW Cup level?

The problem is with someone like Mason - he has already had numerous opportunities at the NRL and has not looked the part ..do you not agree that they need to totally reshape this squad or we will be in for more of the same next season …? How many more times do we need to see him get further NRL opportunities?

The deficiencies in his game are athletic based…he is small, hasn’t sufficient speed , his defence is poor and he is not a great ball player …these are things that don’t really come good at age 21 …

I agree the high ball catching problem is something that can be improved …but prospectoive fullbacks even at the NSW Cup level should not really have this negative attribute to begin with IMO..

Are there other players in this squad in a smiliar position? Yes..but this is the Heath Mason thread so I’m concentrating on him at the moment ..

 

[Vicious]

The problem is with someone like Mason - he has already had numerous opportunities at the NRL and has not looked the part ..do you not agree that they need to totally reshape this squad or we will be in for more of the same next season …? How many more times do we need to see him get further NRL opportunities?

The deficiencies in his game are athletic based…he is small, hasn’t sufficient speed , his defence is poor and he is not a great ball player …these are things that don’t really come good at age 21 …

I agree the high ball catching problem is something that can be improved …but prospectoive fullbacks even at the NSW Cup level should not really have this negative attribute to begin with IMO..

Are there other players in this squad in a smiliar position? Yes..but this is the Heath Mason thread so I’m concentrating on him at the moment ..

I agree he (Mason) doesn’t have any elite characteristics to become a genuine NRL quality fullback.
For this reason it is strange that we have not tried developing him as a 9/13 particularly when he showed some promise in a short stint playing 13 in our trial game this season.
Jack Attard has the attributes and to become an elite NRL fullback, but he like most young players has areas of his game he needs to work on.
I suppose you could say by not moving Mason to 9/13 and by mysteriously moving Attard to 6 for a handful of games on Jersey Flegg is not ideal from a development point of view. Maybe a theory by playing Attard at 6 was to try and toughen him up and improve his defence?

 

[Pringle Gold]

And the main thing is he’s too small, but lacks the skills to make up for it

That’s it. Liability in defence no matter what position he plays and doesn’t do much of anything in attacks

 

[clontarfkid]

If they show a shred of loyalty(usually because they cant a gig elswhere) the current management renews these guys regardless..we nned change
Mason has had numerous opportunities and hasnt shown a shred of potential...how long do u persevere for??Cnay tackle..cant take a high ball...and is not a playmaker.
Hes a real easy one
We let TDS and Onitini Large..and many more with much more potential than Mason..
May be a good kid ,but need to move on