Willie Mason weighing up lots of offers

rhugh89

Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Departing Newcastle Knights prop Willie Mason weighs up ‘a lot’ of NRL offers


  • 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
 
Mason is a clown, the only other club that has shown interest was the Dragons, and after huge rumours of him signing with the Dragons they turned him down. He has nowhere to go.
 
To be fair to Willie, he lifts for big games, and in our wins against the big teams recently he has been one of the guys putting in, but in the games we have gone bad he might as well have stayed on the team bus and played cards for all the impact he had.
If he would be happy with 2nd tier money i'd love to have him in NSW cup along with Newto next year and to see him promoted for the finals next year, because he is a big match performer and would go great for 2 or 3 finals games. I just don't want him for the weekly grind, because half the time he doesn't show up.
 
It sounds like he's trying to make Stone look bad for not re-signing him lol

The last time Stone wanted him, Mason brushed him off and said he wants to sign with a club more likely to win a comp. Now he "never wanted to play anywhere else" and how much of a loyal Newcastle boy he is. Give it a rest mate, no one is surprised you're gone.
 
I don't get why people are so gutted. They all say "but he's so entertaining and influential off the field." This isn't going to help his age and crap form on the field.

Bye Mase!
 
If this was last year I would Agree. Seems to
Me that he had been a lot better for us this year than he was last. It would be good to see him finish his career here. Offer him one more year and by the end of the next year he will be over it I reckon. I know it's too late now but its like he belongs here I know he isn't a club legend or anything but it just fits to give him one more year. Salary cap? What a joke, he wouldn't be on much and where's all the Boyd, Bedsy, Packer, Cuthbo and all of that money going? On Tariq Sims? He is good but not like all that good
 
'A lot' of offers ..... hmmm sounds to me like one of Buddy Holly songs - dreeeeeamm, dream, dream, dream.
 
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From the Sport Confidential column in tomorrow's Daily Telegraph

DON’T be surprised if big Willie Mason finishes his colourful career at the foot of the Blue Mountains.

Talks are underway between the unwanted Knights prop and Panthers officials, who have targeted jailbird Russell Packer as their top front-row recruit for next year.


But with competition for Packer intensifying, Penrith must now consider a fallback option.


We’ve heard that Plan B is Mason, who turns 35 next season but has shown enough over the past 12 months to warrant one final deal.


Mason’s last obligation to Newcastle is ensuring the Mad Monday hangovers aren’t too severe.


In preparation for the big bash, Mason has been stocking up on Security Feel Better, the anti-hangover potion he has been engaged to promote.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...manly-crosshairs/story-fnp0lyn3-1227048110357
 
Willie and Gus would get on well. Tough competition between the pair for who is the biggest **** talker.
 
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