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Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Departing Newcastle Knights prop Willie Mason weighs up ‘a lot’ of NRL offers
A DEFIANT Willie Mason claimed on Thursday he has contract options in the NRL and declared his career is not over despite being unwanted by the Newcastle Knights next season.
After three years in Newcastle, Mason will play his final game for the club on Sunday at Hunter Stadium against St George Illawarra, and while he will turn 35 early next season, he says retirement is not an option.
He maintains he can play in the NRL for another two years.
“I’ll be playing next year.
The Willie Mason saga continues, don’t worry about that,” he said after training.
Asked where he will end up, Mason said: “I’ve got a fair idea but I can’t announce it all.
“I’m definitely going to play next year, I just don’t know where.
“There are a lot of offers out there but it’s just up to me.”
After playing stints at the Bulldogs, Roosters and North Queensland, Mason said he was desperate to finish his career in his home town.
But incoming coach Rick Stone called him in early last month to break the news that he was unwanted.
“It is disappointing, to be honest,” he said.
“I was obviously thinking I was going to finish my career here, and I wanted to finish my career here, and I never really wanted to play for anyone else.
“So it was a bit of a shock to me, and probably all the fans and that as well, that I didn’t get my contract renewed, but that’s footy and I’ll just reflect on the three years that I’ve had here.
“It’s been great. I’ve met some great people, the fans are awesome.
“I’ve always been a Newcastle boy at heart anyway so I knew what the fans are like.
“I’ll miss the fans and I’ll miss the boys ... but it’s not like I’ve been a one man, one club sort of player.”
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ot-of-nrl-offers/story-fni3gf5j-1227047595322
- BARRY TOOHEY
- THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
- SEPTEMBER 04, 2014 12:46PM
A DEFIANT Willie Mason claimed on Thursday he has contract options in the NRL and declared his career is not over despite being unwanted by the Newcastle Knights next season.
After three years in Newcastle, Mason will play his final game for the club on Sunday at Hunter Stadium against St George Illawarra, and while he will turn 35 early next season, he says retirement is not an option.
He maintains he can play in the NRL for another two years.
“I’ll be playing next year.
The Willie Mason saga continues, don’t worry about that,” he said after training.
Asked where he will end up, Mason said: “I’ve got a fair idea but I can’t announce it all.
“I’m definitely going to play next year, I just don’t know where.
“There are a lot of offers out there but it’s just up to me.”
After playing stints at the Bulldogs, Roosters and North Queensland, Mason said he was desperate to finish his career in his home town.
But incoming coach Rick Stone called him in early last month to break the news that he was unwanted.
“It is disappointing, to be honest,” he said.
“I was obviously thinking I was going to finish my career here, and I wanted to finish my career here, and I never really wanted to play for anyone else.
“So it was a bit of a shock to me, and probably all the fans and that as well, that I didn’t get my contract renewed, but that’s footy and I’ll just reflect on the three years that I’ve had here.
“It’s been great. I’ve met some great people, the fans are awesome.
“I’ve always been a Newcastle boy at heart anyway so I knew what the fans are like.
“I’ll miss the fans and I’ll miss the boys ... but it’s not like I’ve been a one man, one club sort of player.”
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ot-of-nrl-offers/story-fni3gf5j-1227047595322