Hooker/14 is Mason's only shot at a future. But he has zero aptitude for defence. He literally cannot tackle
happy_tiger
Well-known member
And struggles under the high ball .....2 pretty major requisites for a potential NRL player .....lucky he is quick .....well not that quick to be honest
LeichhardtTiger
Well-known member
NSW Cup Highlights | Raiders v Magpies - Round Two
All the highlights from GIO Stadium as the Canberra Raiders hosted Western Suburbs Magpies in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
www.nswrl.com.au
I blame this clip as the reason Heath Mason was eventually given a 1st grade debut. 50-12 loss to the KOE Raiders in Rd 1 2024. At the 0.57 sec mark (2nd half down 30-0) he takes a rare bomb and thanks to the disjointed defensive line and a few friendly statues he bursts through the guts and scores a runaway try. Look for his white headgear and he is either notably absent for most of the Raiders 9 tries or is a speed hump for those players who love to crash thru imps.
Everyone has deemed him to be of the top 17 players in his age group , in Australia coming through the grades .
But Yep ,right off a 20 year old because he’s struggled to adapt to first grade , after spending minimal time in open ages below nrl level .
It’s baffling sometimes the stuff people say on here .
I have zero idea if he will or won’t , make a leap this year , or next or even the year after . But prodigious talent with pedigree , nearly always will get you many bites of the apple .
To imply he has no aptitude for defence is simply horseshit . It’s frustratingly horseshit ! He gets his body in the way lifts and drives through his hips , and when does affect a tackle , controls the tackle through to the play the ball.
The issue is he’s 20. And whilst he has the muscles for the mirror , he doesn’t have the strength , and his body hasn’t been hardened to the rigours of week in and week out nrl . So he gets bumped off , or if he’s low in confidence starts trying to adjust his tackling style , like the infinite line breaks in his last game , and simply drops his head .
To me I just see a kid blooded too early with all the intangibles . A kid who works hard , has a good footy head , and wants to be out there. He’s just simply not ready .
But to speak in absolutes like the way some of you do … I guess I’m reluctant to be soo obtuse about these things . 29 year olds like Naden , who’s got a reputation for nose beers on a Saturday night … I mean sure . That’s a grown man right there. But a 20 year old kid ? Who probably should be gearing up for a shot at the flegg title this year , rather than worrying about out a bench spot in nrl …. Each to thier own I guess
Unfortunately he's too small. Not all top Jnrs make it. He can't tackle men. It's been proven, so they tried to ease him in at fullback like a Jye Gray at Souths but he can't catch. He's not the first Jnr star not to be able to adapt to playing men. He won't be the last.
Tackling in the middle is very different to tackling on an edge or at fullback.
I am yet to see Mason miss a front on tackle, all his missed tackles have been him getting beaten laterally which very rarely happens in the middle.
He’s not too small, he is pound for pound the strongest player in the club.
He lost all confidence throughout last season and who knows if he can get that back or not, but if he fails it will not be from being too small and it will not be from any issues with his front on defence.
innsaneink
Well-known member
"He’s not too small, he is pound for pound the strongest player in the club."
Im interested in where this is from
Buttface
Well-known member
He is terrible, MIA. Got lucky with the try. How on earth does anyone watch that game and sign him. He should become a magician, he’s got a great disappearing act.
NSW Cup Highlights | Raiders v Magpies - Round Two
All the highlights from GIO Stadium as the Canberra Raiders hosted Western Suburbs Magpies in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
I blame this clip as the reason Heath Mason was eventually given a 1st grade debut. 50-12 loss to the KOE Raiders in Rd 1 2024. At the 0.57 sec mark (2nd half down 30-0) he takes a rare bomb and thanks to the disjointed defensive line and a few friendly statues he bursts through the guts and scores a runaway try. Look for his white headgear and he is either notably absent for most of the Raiders 9 tries or is a speed hump for those players who love to crash thru imps.
Nice cut back at the end from the centre.
balmain boy
Well-known member
Tavana was already well behind Brookes for fullback last year. How would be have jumped him now?
In any case tavana is purely a winger for now. Playing him anywhere else removes most of his strengths.
Attard or Brookes will fight it out for fullback as things stand
What’s been proven? He’s 20 years old . wtf are you talking about ?
You don’t mature as a male physically until your mid to late 20s at the earliest . He’s not a fullback as well …. Nobody wants to play him there. Sorry but that’s just literary diarrhoea… he has 3-5 years before a decisions needs to be, nor can be made on his career path.
And if it doesn’t work out , I won’t be handing praise to people death riding an 18 year old .
The fickleness of the 2000-2020 of cutting most kids who haven’t made it by 21 has lead to a false economy . With 3 teams to join in the next 7-10 year, teams will have to return to a more patient approach and give time.
I just think it’s completely stupid to right off a 20 year old . For reference in the nfl they don’t even debut until they’re 21 at the earliest , most usually at 22/23.
Like I already said , he gets his body in the way , he uses his shoulders . He just can’t affect the same tackle over and over , which is consistent with what most people criticise over young players.
The problem is people think your Makasini , Suallii , Bradman best type athletic freaks are the new norm .
I could think of 5-10 players who had massive issues with defence that were little . Maloney was the big one . Teams passed on him because of it . The storm took a chance with him , then the warriors then his career took off . Patience is the key . He was blooded too early because of necessity and poor cap management and roster management . Same for TDS and Galvin and miller and Matamua . Pretty much all those kids . But he’s still at the club , so I think he’s aware that it’s 2 steps forward 1 step back .
I can’t see him spending much time in nrl next year . Which will be good for him .
Buttface
Well-known member
A mate of mine goes to all Penrith games, he reckons Attard is a goer and old mate is not happy he’s gone. Reckons he’ll take Bulla’s spot a couple of years.
