Willie Mason [Discussion]

Mason had a very good season, however, in my pecking order he still would not make NSW origin team, as we have players like Woods, Galloway, Gibbs, Tamou, Grant, Sims, Merrin, Kite etc.
If we add Qld's like Thaidey, Hannet etc. I cannot see him be considered for rep jersey in front of any player mentioned above.
 
IF you doubt Willie Mason's claims that he could play rep footy next season, you can't dispute his body of evidence.
>
Mason might be 32 and he hasn't played for NSW or Australia since 2008, but sprint coach guru Roger Fabri says this is the fittest he has seen the giant prop heading into pre-season training.
>
After watching Mason power through a gruelling one-hour session on a sweltering afternoon during the week at Centennial Park, it is impossible to argue with Fabri's assessment.
>
"If he is not in the best nick I have had him in, he'd be very close to that,' Fabri said.
>
"He has certainly presented himself the best he ever has on an off-season."
>
And the man himself won't close the door on any possibility, even an Origin return.
>
"Well, I'm not ruling it out," Mason said.
>
"As I always said, if I play my best footy, all those rep jerseys come with my ability. I don't doubt myself at all. I am looking forward to the start of the year and the pre-season. I am really excited."
>
Mason also said he owes a lot to the man who helped make his comeback possible - Wayne Bennett.
>
Willie Mason
Willie Mason
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Willie Mason takes a breather while playing for the Knights last year. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph
>
This time last year Mason was on the scrapheap, desperate for another crack, but no club was prepared to take him on.
>
Bennett gave Mason one last chance and he never looked back. His form was one of the positives to come out of an otherwise disappointing season for the Knights.
>
Mason even won Bennett's coach's award.
>
Those who witnessed him receiving the award from Bennett said it was the highlight of the evening, with Mason so overcome with emotion he could hardly speak.
>
"It was (emotional)," Mason admitted. "Coming through a bit of adversity at the start of the year and coming out the other end felt good. And also the fact that it came from a coach as well respected as Wayne.
>
"It is probably one of the highest accolades I have ever received, personally.
>
"If I had got it from some previous coaches I wouldn't really care.
>
"But it being from Wayne - and him being so respected - it was a different feeling.
>
"It wasn't a big speech, but the emotion they saw in my speech was good enough for a million words."

I just cannot see this same thing being replicated if he was allowed to come here…..it wouldnt have happened.Best move Masons made.
 
looks like that Wille just needed a coach like Wayne Bennett to bring out best in him.
good on him, for making the most of his chance.
when he does eventually retire, he will look back and know he gave it his all, and will be proud of that.
 
@innsaneink said:
IF you doubt Willie Mason's claims that he could play rep footy next season, you can't dispute his body of evidence.
>
Mason might be 32 and he hasn't played for NSW or Australia since 2008, but sprint coach guru Roger Fabri says this is the fittest he has seen the giant prop heading into pre-season training.
>
After watching Mason power through a gruelling one-hour session on a sweltering afternoon during the week at Centennial Park, it is impossible to argue with Fabri's assessment.
>
"If he is not in the best nick I have had him in, he'd be very close to that,' Fabri said.
>
"He has certainly presented himself the best he ever has on an off-season."
>
And the man himself won't close the door on any possibility, even an Origin return.
>
"Well, I'm not ruling it out," Mason said.
>
"As I always said, if I play my best footy, **all those rep jerseys come with my ability.** I don't doubt myself at all. I am looking forward to the start of the year and the pre-season. I am really excited."
>
Mason also said he owes a lot to the man who helped make his comeback possible - Wayne Bennett.
>
Willie Mason
Willie Mason
>
Willie Mason takes a breather while playing for the Knights last year. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph
>
This time last year Mason was on the scrapheap, desperate for another crack, but no club was prepared to take him on.
>
Bennett gave Mason one last chance and he never looked back. His form was one of the positives to come out of an otherwise disappointing season for the Knights.
>
Mason even won Bennett's coach's award.
>
Those who witnessed him receiving the award from Bennett said it was the highlight of the evening, with Mason so overcome with emotion he could hardly speak.
>
"It was (emotional)," Mason admitted. "Coming through a bit of adversity at the start of the year and coming out the other end felt good. And also the fact that it came from a coach as well respected as Wayne.
>
"It is probably one of the highest accolades I have ever received, personally.
>
"If I had got it from some previous coaches I wouldn't really care.
>
"But it being from Wayne - and him being so respected - it was a different feeling.
>
"It wasn't a big speech, but the emotion they saw in my speech was good enough for a million words."

I just cannot see this same thing being replicated if he was allowed to come here…..it wouldnt have happened.Best move Masons made.
Click to expand...

Has never been shy about pumping up his own tyres! Hell, if Dean Young and Jamie Buhrer can get a game in Origin, anyone can.

No wonder he won the Coaches Award, they didn't really have a lot of players to choose from in all honesty.

He had a couple of good games this season, mainly early on while the hype was still fresh but in the end I don't think we have missed out on too much by not having him here. Did well to come back from obscurity I suppose
 
Having watched Willie on NRL 360 last night, it was refreshing to hear an NRL player able to speak his mind without resorting to cliches. lol@his concern for Dugan because he was drinking a pineapple breezer!
 
Willie in the past put his foot in his mouth… Since returning he has matured but I like that he speaks his mind and calls it as he sees it

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_
 
After the game against the Tigers when he was interviewed by Fox Sports I was impressed by the way he spoke. He certainly is more charismatic than Gasnier et al and I personally think he could do well in the media.
 
@Muffstar said:
After the game against the Tigers when he was interviewed by Fox Sports I was impressed by the way he spoke. He certainly is more charismatic than Gasnier et al and I personally think he could do well in the media.
Click to expand...

Gasnier has the personality of a dry sponge
 
@GNR4LIFE said:
@Muffstar said:
After the game against the Tigers when he was interviewed by Fox Sports I was impressed by the way he spoke. He certainly is more charismatic than Gasnier et al and I personally think he could do well in the media.

Gasnier has the personality of a dry sponge
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

LOL!

Roar feed needs the rep function I just realised!!

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_
 
@GNR4LIFE said:
@Muffstar said:
After the game against the Tigers when he was interviewed by Fox Sports I was impressed by the way he spoke. He certainly is more charismatic than Gasnier et al and I personally think he could do well in the media.

Gasnier has the personality of a dry sponge
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

I feel that dry sponges would be offended by that comment.

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_
 
@Muffstar said:
After the game against the Tigers when he was interviewed by Fox Sports I was impressed by the way he spoke. He certainly is more charismatic than Gasnier et al and I personally think he could do well in the media.
Click to expand...

I thought he came across as a smartarse as usual TBH. Winners are grinners I suppose. He doesn't mind having a sook when he is on the losing end though.
 
I like him he calls a spade a spade and he's a breath of fresh air compared to all the other cloned robots. He comes across as very natural and I love the fact he just doesn't give a stuff. Rugby league needs more characters like him in the game.
 
By all means carry on like an arrogant smartarse when you win and cop all of the pats on the back, but if you wanna act like that take it like a man when you lose. From what I have seen he doesn't do that. I agree that their are too many boring robots in the game, 20 years ago reading Rugby League Week magazine was thoroughly entertaining and it was full of great, diverse stories….read it now and you may as well be reading Woman's Day :angry:
 
Big Willie blew .09 on his way to training

Full story on the ninemsn page

Seems like the party days at Newcastle are back

Ben Rogers has 2 assault charges against him and Dane Gagai went missing after a big night at the emerging SOO stars camp in which Bennett was in charge of

Add this to the Packer fiasco and its fun , fun ,fun down the Hunter way
 
read a news article earlier on mason and saw he blew 0.09 and thought that's not TOOO bad considering the limit is 0.05 (illegal yes, but i thought he'd be off his face or something). then i read 'on his way to training'

jeez…..he really shouldn't be drinking, doesn't have that many brain cells to begin with.
 
It didn't take long for the Party Boy tricks.

Lets see what Bennett does now with some of his rowdies, seeing he is a strict disciplinarian, lol

Me thinks he only takes action if he has plenty of talent at his disposal and Newcastle is certainly not Brisbane or St George.

Glad we didn't sign him. Folkes was spot on

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_
 
Over the alcohol limit whilst driving to training. He might of had trouble remembering the training drills that day. Going on his past record I don't think it bothered him too much. Bennett however might have a different view than one of his star players.
 
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